KOTA SAMARAHAN, June 30: The construction of an approximately 11-kilometer elevated road project connecting Batang Sadong to Asajaya is among the first elevated road projects in Sarawak and is currently under active implementation.

Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, expressed his satisfaction with the project's progress, despite the time required for planning and execution before physical work could begin on-site.

He stated that the project had actually been planned several years ago before finally moving into the implementation stage.

"I am very satisfied with the progress of this project. Although it took time for planning and execution, it has finally kicked off. Now that the project has started, we are confident that the appointed contractor will be able to complete it successfully," he said when met after a working visit to the project site today.

According to him, among the main advantages of constructing an elevated road are lower maintenance costs and minimal impact on peatland areas, while maintaining the stability of the road structure.

He explained that the existing road in several areas exhibits a "wavy" (uneven) condition due to the soft soil structure, which results in high maintenance costs.

"If we drive on the road from Kota Samarahan to this area, we can see many wavy sections. In peatland areas, it is difficult to maintain stability, leading to very high maintenance costs. With an elevated road, maintenance becomes much better and it is safer," he explained.

He also shared that Sarawak had previously looked into the implementation of elevated roads in Brunei, which demonstrated efficiency in terms of long-term maintenance and minimal environmental impact.

This project is expected to become one of Sarawak’s new development icons, reflecting the capability of the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) and local contractors in executing high-tech and challenging infrastructure projects.

"I am very happy to see this project, which will become an icon for Sarawak. From time to time, Sarawak constantly creates new icons. After the Batang Lupar 1 Bridge, this project is now another icon that reflects JKR’s capability to execute high-tech projects," he said.

He further expressed confidence that the project would be completed within the planned 54 months, making it another significant milestone in the state's infrastructure development.

At the same time, he informed that there are several technical issues, such as sand supply and construction material costs—including the rise in diesel prices. However, these matters are being addressed and are not expected to affect the project’s implementation in the long run.

He added that Sarawak JKR is conducting strict monitoring based on three main parameters: manpower, the number of machinery on-site, and actual work progress, to ensure the project remains on schedule.

He explained that if there is an imbalance between planning and ground execution, JKR will immediately take follow-up action with the contractor to ensure the issues are resolved promptly. — TVS