Nanta (left) is briefed during his visit to the Bukit Begunan section of the LBH in Sri Aman. – Bernama photo
SRI AMAN (Feb 7): Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi is confident that the need to allocate bigger budget to support the financial implications involved to redesign some sections of the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway (Sarawak LPB) will get the backing of all ministries involved in the project.
He said the government understands that the LPB project is a very important project for the people in Sarawak and Sabah and expressed confidence that any request for additional budget to complete the project will be approved.
“I don’t know how much a total additional budget is needed for the whole project (after adding in the financial implications involved) for now but I am confident that the need to allocate additional budget for the project will get support from the government,” he told reporters after a working visit to Lachau yesterday.
He informed that there are some redesigns needed for the Sarawak LPB project, and one of them is for the Work Package Contract (WPC) 04 of the project which spans from the Pantu junction to the Batang Skrang Bridge.
According to him, among the challenges identified in completing the WPC 04 is the unstable soil structure at the Bukit Begunan section of the WPC, requiring redesign of the existing road.
Nanta said an approximate sum of RM70 million is needed for the works to redesign the Bukit Begunan section and WPC 04 is expected to be completed by November this year.
Meanwhile in a statement, Nanta’s ministry said the purpose of the minister’s visit to Bukit Begunan area yesterday was to do a survey and ensure the effectiveness and progress of the federal road project.
“The focus of the survey this time is on the Bukit Begunan section, WPC 04 – Pantu Junction to Batang Skrang Bridge which is 91 kilometres long and divided into two sections which are the Bukit Begunan section and the Sri Aman section,” said the statement.
Commenting on the redesigns needed for the WPC 04 especially at the Bukit Begunan area, the statement said that the overall progress of the WPC 04 as of January this year was 90 per cent with expected completion in November 2023.
The redesign is important as it is to ensure that the new road is safer for road users, it added.
According to the statement, the review of the progress of the Sarawak LPB project is also one of the continuous monitoring programmes by Nanta’s ministry on high-impact projects, especially in Sarawak.
As construction works on the highway are still ongoing, the ministry advised road users to obey road signs and speed limits, especially along the construction area.
It said complaints and inquiries regarding road construction and maintenance works for the Sarawak LPB Project can be forwarded via phone, website and social media to the Ministry of Works and Sarawak Public Works Department (Sarawak JKR).
“This project under the allocation of the federal government is able to help disperse traffic from Kuching to Sibu to move more comfortably and safely.
“In addition, it will be a catalyst for the development of surrounding areas such as Pantu, Sri Aman and Betong with better road access,” added the statement.
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