Uggah speaks to the media while Aidel (left) looks on. – Ukas photo
KUCHING (Nov 28): The “sick” Rambungan Bridge project in Lundu will resume under a newly appointed contractor, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
He said Titanium Project Management has been selected as the rescue contractor for the project effective this November 19, to complete the remaining 43 per cent of the work.
“The bridge, initially delayed for years, is now expected to be completed within 30 months, with a target date of May 18, 2027,” he said, according to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) report today.
The initial cost of the 560m bridge project was about RM99 million, which started in Nov 2019.
Uggah also expressed optimism that the project could be finished earlier, potentially within two years or even 18 months.
This is because while the contract provides a 30-month timeline, he said the contractor has proposed that they can complete the project within two years, or possibly 18 months.
He highlighted the frustrations of local residents and elected representatives who have been waiting for years for the bridge’s completion.
“This project has been delayed for far too long, unlike the Batang Lupar Bridge, which is progressing smoothly,” he said, during a site visit to inspect the progress of the Rambungan Bridge today.
He was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Aidel Lariwoo.
Apart from the Rambungan bridge, Uggah also inspected the Sejingkat Bridge project, a 1.3-kilometer span costing RM365.7 million.
Initially scheduled for completion in early 2026, the project is now expected to be finished by December 2025 in which the delay in the Sejingkat Bridge project was attributed to design modifications, particularly in the construction of its pylons.
Despite this, Uggah expressed confidence in the contractor’s ability to address the challenges.
“We have agreed with the contractor to resolve the existing issues. We are targeting December 2025 for full completion,” he said.
Uggah plans to return to the Sejingkat Bridge site in January 2025 to review the progress of the pylons, which require an additional 37 meters of construction while he also announced a follow-up visit in February 2025 to ensure the structure is on track for completion.
“We will monitor this project closely to ensure its timely delivery and I will also be back in the field in January 2025 to see the physical progress of the pylon, which is understood to have 37 metres left to be installed.
“At the end of February, I will come back here to see the pylon fully completed and I will stand at the top of the pylon,” he said.
Meanwhile, he also revealed that the construction of the road linking Matang Jaya to Jalan Matang and Jalan Batu Kawa-Matang is progressing well, currently 13 per cent ahead of schedule.
He thus expressed hope that the 4.4-kilometre stretch could be completed as soon as possible, given the area’s persistent congestion.
He also noted that a new two-kilometre section of the road would be completed within a month to allow the upgrading of the existing road.
“This strategy ensures minimal disruption while ensuring progress. The contractor has adequate resources and manpower, and we are confident they can deliver,” he said after visiting the road project.
He added that utility relocation, costing RM20 million, will also be implemented to support the project and the entire road upgrade is slated for completion by July 2025.
