BAU: The upgrading works for the Kuching–Bau Road under Phase One, spanning 3.65 kilometres from the Pan Borneo Highway junction to Pekan Bau, is currently at 11.5 per cent completion but are facing delays due to unresolved land and structural issues.
Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development (Infrastructure Development), Datuk Aidel Lariwoo, said the dual carriageway project is part of the state’s plan to upgrade the route from a rural-standard road (R5) to an urban-standard (U5) road.
The RM74 million project is targeted for completion in April 2027, following the latest revision of the timeline.
“This stretch is very strategic as it connects the Pan Borneo Highway directly to Bau town.
“However, we are encountering delays caused mainly by 19 houses that have yet to be vacated,” he said today.
The affected structures are situated on the old Right-of-Way (ROW), which the government has acquired.
He added that some residents had built their homes along the old road alignment, with seven of the affected properties having been resolved, and 19 remain pending.
“To address this, the Public Works Department (JKR) and the Land and Survey Department are conducting assessments for ex gratia payments,” Aidel explained, noting that these compensations are discretionary since the structures are technically on state land.
Compounding the delay is the relocation of utility services, such as water and electricity lines, which also need to be permanently repositioned before the works can proceed smoothly.
“In the meantime, we have instructed the contractor to continue progressing in unaffected areas to avoid a complete standstill.
“The project is currently delayed by about 5.83 per cent compared to the planned schedule,” Aidel added.
The upgraded road will include a new bridge across Sungai Tuba and is being built to U5 standard, which is nearly equivalent to R5 but with enhanced specifications suitable for urban traffic.
Phase One is only the beginning of a larger initiative, but Phase Two, which will upgrade a 17.6 kilometre stretch from Bau town to Batu Kitang near Kuching, has been allocated RM480 million and is currently in the planning and realignment stage.
Tenders for Phase Two are expected to be called by the fourth quarter of this year under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13).
“This will complete the strategic road network linking Bau, Lundu, and Kuching, integrating it with the Kuching Inner Ring Road via Jalan Stephen Yong,” Aidel said.
