LUNDU: The long-awaited Rambungan Bridge is now progressing smoothly with no major issues reported.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the project, once deemed “sick”, is now six to 13 per cent ahead of schedule under Titanium Project Management Sdn Bhd and is expected to be completed by July 2026, a year earlier than planned.
“We are confident it can be delivered by July 2026. The contractor is very experienced, and so far there are no major issues.
“Only minor issues have been reported, and they can be resolved quickly,” he said during a press conference after inspecting the project site today.
Uggah stressed that close monitoring will continue to ensure the RM82 million project meets all specifications, especially in terms of safety and durability.
He said his team and the Public Works Department (PWD), would conduct frequent site visits to supervise progress.
On possible challenges, Uggah noted that manpower demand could rise as construction activity increases but expressed confidence this could be managed.
“Logistics are not a problem. Materials are arriving as required, and we want to make sure everything complies with standards,” he added.
He also explained that once the Rambungan Bridge is completed, ferry services in the area will no longer be necessary, although ferries remain operational in other locations until bridge projects there are finished.
For the record, Uggah had disclosed in November last year that the bridge was already 60 per cent complete and on track for its May 2027 schedule.
The project, spanning 560 metres, was originally awarded to a local contractor in collaboration with a Chinese company.
Construction began on Dec 17, 2019 and was supposed to finish by Dec 16, 2022.
However, delays arose due to manpower shortages, project implementation methods, and failure to meet the Public Works Department (PWD) timeline.
A rescue contractor was subsequently appointed and began work on November 19, 2024, ensuring continuity of the project, which forms part of the Sarawak Coastal Road network.
