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.”

Nod for RM100 mln Samarahan bridge

by Jacob Achoi, reporters@theborneopost.com. 

Posted on October 25, 2012, Thursday

ASAJAYA: Some 70,000 people of Asajaya stand to benefit significantly when the proposed RM100 million Samarahan bridge materialises in about two years time.

Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said work on the project was expected to start next year, and that this development initiative, which would take two years to complete, would not only cut travelling time to the city by about 30 minutes but would also boost development in the area.

“Development in the area would be boosted, what with the Batang Sadong bridge also under construction and expected to be completed in 2016,” he told reporters after presenting land titles and compensations to about 180 people from Kampung Sambir at Asajaya Sports Complex recently.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Housing Minister and Assistant Minister of Youth Development, said the proposed Samarahan bridge was actually approved under the Eighth Malaysia Plan (8MP) but it had to be put on hold due to financial constraints and after weighing priority considerations.

“Even though it has not been officially announced by the higher authorities, we have received a very positive response that the bridge (at Samarahan) will start next year at a cost of RM100 million.”