Sarawak-side Pan Borneo Highway Project to open first phase by year-end, says Fadillah

BINTULU: The government is optimistic that the construction of phase one of the Pan Borneo Highway project in Sarawak can be completed by the end of this year.

Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the target was achievable despite challenges faced during the construction period, including the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We target phase one of Sarawak's Pan Borneo Highway project from Telok Melano to Miri will be fully opened by the end of this year.

"Although (previously) we faced several challenges such as the shortage of manpower and raw material supply, we are giving our full commitment to complete the phase one of the project by the end of this year," he said in his speech at the opening of the Nyabau flyover here today.

The 1.2-kilometre flyover was the longest elevated intersection for Sarawak portion of the Pan Borneo Highway.

The RM16.117bil project which had 11 work packages and started in October 2015 involved the construction of a 786km stretch of road from Telok Melano to Miri.

Meanwhile, Fadillah said the successful construction of the Sarawak side of the Pan Borneo Highway was the result of close cooperation between the state and federal governments. The highway extends into Sabah. The Sabah side of the highway project has been moving at a much slower pace than the one in Sarawak.

"We have (so far) managed to open several road alignments of the highway, including in Telok Melano as well as from Serian to Balai Ringin and in Julau. We are targeting that more (will be opened)," he added.