Pan Borneo highway status in Sabah and Sarawak

Image credits to BERNAMA

The transportation industry has made remarkable progress toward recovery after being severely impacted by the pandemic. In Sabah and Sarawak, the federal government has approved the construction of Phase 2 of the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) project and the Trans Borneo Highway (LTB) project in August of this year, which will begin early next year.

Recently, Public Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi has told Bernama that there will be more focus on the completion of the Pan Borneo Highway project, as a measure to ensure the development of facilities for residents in the rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak.

Nanta said that matter was one of his main focuses after being appointed to lead the Ministry of Public Works (KKR), in addition to ensuring that problematic projects across the country could be completed as soon as possible.

"It is certain that my focus is on the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway project to be implemented and completed in the best possible way, in addition to the project in Sabah as well because it is understood that the achievements in Sabah have not been satisfactory," he said after scanning the time recorder card as a symbol of starting his official duties at the KKR headquarters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. 

Whereas the first phase of the project, which began in 2016, was expected to be completed this year, it is now more than 60% complete in Sabah, and Phase one of the Pan Borneo Highway project, which covers 786 kilometres from Telok Melano to Miri and costs RM16.117 billion, has reached 88% completion as of October 2022.

As for the SSLR and LTB projects, which connect Miri to Limbang and Lawas, are currently in their last stages of construction and are projected to take three to five years to complete.

Beside that, Sarawak also saw the opening the Pujut Section of the Sarawak portion of the Pan Borneo Highway took place on Aug 7, 2022, involving a total cost of RM10.62 billion that enable communities and residents in Miri, Limbang and Lawas to enjoy a better, safer, and more comfortable road network.

The 15.9 km stretch of the Pujut Section of the Pan Borneo Highway that connects the Miri Airport intersection and the Pujut Link Road was built at an estimated cost of RM470 million.

Source: BERNAMA