Bridging the gap after a 14-year wait

February 7, 2015

Jabu (second right) with (from right) Manyin, Fadillah, Nancy, Abdul Karim, Ali and others at the earth-breaking ceremony.

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Work on the Batang Samarahan Bridge has finally started after a 14-year wait and is scheduled to be completed in 36 months.

By January 2018, people of Kota Samarahan as well as Asajaya and Sadong Jaya will no longer have to spend an hour on the road travelling between these areas.

The RM93.88 million project is set to benefit some 240,000 residents in the division, boosting socio-economic activities in the areas concerned with the new shortened travelling distance.

According to Minister of Works Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, the new bridge spanning 774 metres complies with the British Standard 5400 code of practice.

While it is a dual carriage bridge, a three-km pedestrian path connected to the bridge will also be built.

At the earth-breaking ceremony yesterday, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said he hoped the contractor and supervisor of the project would make certain that work on the bridge will be carried out as planned.

“Residents here have been waiting for this bridge to happen for over 14 years. Therefore, we hope to see full commitment dedicated to this project.”

The conceptualised Batang Samarahan Bridge.

His speech was read out by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang. Jabu disclosed that Adenan was on an official trip to Kuala Lumpur to meet the prime minister.

Noting that the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) begins next year, Adenan said the state government hoped major projects requested by Sarawak would be given top priority.

“This is because Sarawak still needs a lot more development in order to catch up with the progress being made in Peninsular Malaysia.”

Earlier, Assistant Minister for Housing and Asajaya assemblyman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he was pleased the Barisan Nasional government had fulfilled its promise at last after bidding for the project under three Malaysia Plans – the 8th, the 9th and the 10th.

“Finally, we will be getting this (bridge). You can see that it is being constructed near Kampung Baru where 2,000 villagers reside. They have families and relatives in Kampung Tambey across the river.

“At the moment, they are cut off from the river. With the bridge in place, it will save them over 30 minutes on the road. What’s more, I was made to understand that the bridge is quite a big one with four lanes,” he enthused.

Karim disclosed that there was also an extension plan for Kampung Baru in a move to bring people closer together.

“As many villagers here are farmers, the bridge will be of great convenience for them to transport their produce for sale.”

NASIH TANAH: Jabu (dua kanan) bejadi Projek Jematan Batang Samarahan seraya dikemata manyin (kanan) enggau Fadillah (tiga kanan). -Source

Among those present were Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri and Muara Tuang assemblyman Dato Sri Mohammad Ali Mahmud.