Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah (third left) visiting the site of the Muara Lassa bridge project in Daro, Sarawak.
KUCHING: The Batang Paloh and Muara Lassa bridge projects in central coastal Sarawak can be completed by December next year, says Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
The Deputy Premier said the RM298mil Batang Paloh bridge in Tanjung Manis was currently 58.33% completed compared to its scheduled progress of 63.88%.
He said the project was facing a problem whereby ships and barges would occasionally knock a couple of pile caps into the river.
"Each time this happens, it affects the workflow as the contractor has to do repairs," he said after visiting both bridge projects to monitor the progress of their implementation on Tuesday (May 9).
Uggah said the Infrastructure and Port Development Ministry, which he helms, would meet with the relevant agencies including the Public Works Department, Resident's Office and district office soon to resolve this problem.
"I am confident we will have a solution. Then the contractor can work without further disruption for the bridge to be completed by December 2024," he said.
Uggah also said the RM597mil Muara Lassa bridge in Daro was progressing on schedule.
"I hope the contractor will take full advantage of the good weather in the next few months," he said.
The Muara Lassa bridge was set to be the second longest in Sarawak at 2.43km.
"This is one of the bridges that will transform the surrounding coastal areas and is an effort by the state government to try to upgrade infrastructure facilities in rural areas," Uggah said.
He added that the two bridges were part of the coastal highway and second trunk road projects, wholly financed by the state government at a total cost of RM11bil.
