LBU photo shows a stretch of the newly completed double carriageway.
KUCHING: A 20km stretch of the double carriageway of Pan Borneo Highway from Serian to Pantu has been completed and open to road users.
Pan Borneo Highway project delivery partner Lebuhraya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd (LBU) on its website said the completed stretch is part of the 75km Serian-Pantu Junction (Works Package 03) currently undertaken by Zecon Kimlun Consortium Sdn Bhd.
It also said the opening of this first carriageway will give road users a glimpse of how it feels like driving along the Pan Borneo Highway on Sarawak side once it is fully completed in two years’ time.
“This 20km has already been paved up to the binder course level. Another 4km of carriageway is also almost ready up to the same level and we will open the stretch soon,” said LBU project manager for Serian-Pantu Junction (Works Package 03) Azrin Ahmad in the website.
On the flyover for the Serian Interchange 1, Azrin said works on the deck slab had already been completed and now the project team had moved on to reinforce earth wall.
“We are already at the final stage of completing the flyover. We hope to complete it by July this year,” he said.
Azrin added the completion of this flyover would help alleviate the traffic congestion in Serian town where the flyover is located.
Currently due to space constraint, road users have to use a narrow slip road to avoid passing through the construction area.
“As for Serian Interchange 2, we have completed the bored piling. We are now building up its super structure. The target is to complete this flyover by October this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Azrin revealed that the new bridge crossing Batang Sadong in Serian would be opened to road users next week.
“By next week, we can shift road users to the new bridge and start the reinstatement work on the old bridge, such as bridge joint and pavement works and parapet wall.
“The old bridge will be temporarily closed to enable these works to be carried out,” he said.
The new bridge will complement the old one built in 1992 which was retained now for Serian-bound traffic after it passed the proof load test conducted in July last year.
Azrin also said two other bridges in WPC 03 at Sungai Bedup and Sungai Kerait will also be partially opened to road users by next week.
“Deck slab for Sungai Bedup Bridge is now completed and we can open the first carriageway of this bridge to road users next week as we move on to construct the second carriageway.
“As for Sungai Kerait Bridge, the first carriageway is already completed and we have moved on to construct the second carriageway,” he added.
Meanwhile, LBU in its website also explained the Works Package 03 involves upgrading the existing 75km of Federal trunk road (stretching from Serian roundabout to Pantu Junction) into an R5 standard 4-lane dual carriageway.
For ease of construction it is divided into Serian Section and Pantu Section.