RM82 mln Batang Rambungan Bridge set for completion by year end, says deputy minister

KUCHING (Jan 8): The RM82 million Batang Rambungan Bridge is expected to be fully completed and operational by the end of this year, said State Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Ir Aidel Lariwoo.

He said the original contractual completion date was May 2027, but the contractor has assured that work can be finished by year-end.

“The physical progress of the project is currently slightly behind the original schedule, but it is still within the overall timeline.

“Based on the latest updates from the contractor, we are confident that this bridge can be completed this year,” he told reporters during a visit to the bridge construction site.

The 560-metre-long bridge, built using the cable-stayed method with nine cables per pylon, is one of the most modern and strategic bridges along Sarawak’s coastal route.

Aidel said minor delays occurred earlier due to technical issues and approval requirements for the concrete mix, but these have been resolved.

He explained that one of the main issues involved the use of Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA) in the concrete mix, which required approval not only from the Public Works Department (JKR) but also from federal authorities.

“However, that issue has been resolved, so the main focus now is to ensure the contractor accelerates the work, especially once all major materials such as the cables arrive after May,” he said.

Aidel said that project progress is expected to increase significantly once major works such as the construction of the pylons and deck installation are fully underway.

He added that the Batang Rambungan Bridge project is the final and largest component of the first phase of the Sempadi – Lundu Coastal Road, following the earlier completion of eight smaller bridges along the same route.

The Sempadi – Lundu route, he said, will not only enhance coastal connectivity but will also serve as a key link to a new road project leading to the new campus of i-CATS University College in Trombol, Telaga Air.

According to him, the proposed two-lane road of approximately seven kilometres from the end of the Coastal Road to the university is currently at the tender stage and will be implemented under the First Phase of the 13th Malaysia Plan.

Once completed, the route will form a strategic road network loop, supporting the development of education, economic growth, and public mobility in Sarawak’s western coastal areas.