Aidel (seventh right) representing Uggah at the pre-launch of the Muara Lassa Bridge.

DARO (Jan 9): The 2.43km Muara Lassa Bridge is now fully completed and open to the public starting today.

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development, Datuk Aidel Lariwoo, said the bridge is the second longest in Sarawak, after the Batang Lupar Bridge.

He said the construction of the Muara Lassa Bridge took 48 months and was completed smoothly without any issues, with high quality.

“Next, a two-lane road connecting this bridge to the town of Daro has been approved and will be constructed,” he said at the pre-launch ceremony of the Muara Lassa Bridge today, representing Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

He expressed gratitude to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg for the success in constructing 16 bridges.

“A total of 14 bridges have been built along the coastal road and the second trunk road of Sarawak, and two more in other major bridge areas, making it 16 bridges built simultaneously.

“We feel very fortunate and thankful to the GPS government for using alternative financing to build all these bridges.

“The RM12-billion cost also includes these roads, all fully funded by the Sarawak government.

“That is the result though previously there were parties questioning Sarawak’s approach of using a lot of alternative financing.

“Thanks to our leaders’ wisdom for using this method. If we followed the conventional method, this might not have been possible yet,” he stressed.

When asked about the bridges to be completed this year, the Sadong Jaya assemblyman said the Bintulu-Jepak Bridge will be completed in February this year.

Meanwhile, the Pasi Bridge in Batang Rajang will be completed in March, and the Batang Saribas Bridge will be completed soon, followed by other bridges.

“The overall progress of the coastal road project has reached 80 per cent, and the second trunk road of Sarawak is almost 30 per cent completed,” he explained.

The Premier is expected to officially declare open the Muara Lassa Bridge on February 22.