KUCHING: Commuters from Kota Samarahan, Asajaya and Sadong Jaya to Kuching, Petra Jaya and Demak Laut can expect much-awaited relief from traffic congestion when the RM360 million Samarahan-Asajaya bridge opens as early as March this year.
The 1.28-kilometre bridge, standing 26 metres above the Sarawak River, is currently more than 80 per cent complete and is expected to provide a critical alternative route to ease chronic peak-hour congestion along the Samarahan-Kuching corridor.
Residents and business operators said the new bridge, together with planned connecting roads, could transform daily commuting patterns and improve economic prospects in the Samarahan and Asajaya areas.
Napri Sahari, 59, said he was looking forward to having an additional route to the city, noting that traffic congestion in Samarahan has worsened over the years due to increasing vehicle numbers.
“There will finally be another option to get to Kuching. Many youths from Asajaya, Kampung Sambir, Kampung Tambirat and Kampung Tambey work in the city, so you can imagine how many cars pass through Samarahan every day,” he said.
Napri also hoped road upgrades beyond the Samarahan-Asajaya bridge would be addressed, suggesting certain sections be converted into dual one-way lanes to resolve existing bottlenecks.
Meanwhile, self-employed Lianny Bujang, 38, from Moyan, said congestion often forces her to plan trips carefully when meeting clients in Asajaya.
“I once got stuck in a Samarahan traffic jam for two hours. When the new bridge opens, I hope more drivers will switch to the alternative route so traffic on the main road becomes calmer,” she said.
Another self-employed resident, Anthea Thomas, 38, from Batu 12, said severe congestion often discouraged her from travelling between Samarahan and Kuching despite work opportunities.
“With more route options, people won’t depend on just one main road. If traffic improves, it will also open up more opportunities for services like insurance,” she said.
Meanwhile, Asajaya trader Noorlizawati Kasbi, 43, said improved road access would help local businesses expand beyond the district.
“If the timing is wrong, we can get stuck in traffic for up to two hours.
“With better access, it will be easier to bring my ready-to-eat products out of Asajaya,” she said, adding that improved connectivity could also attract more visitors to the town.
Noorlizawati, who has operated her Asajaya prawn noodles business for 12 years and employs 29 workers, said Asajaya often serves as a stopover for motorists using the coastal route, and she hopes the new bridge will further boost visitor numbers and local economic activity.
Overall, residents expressed hope that the completion of the Samarahan-Asajaya bridge would not only ease daily travel but also spur more balanced development between urban and coastal areas, improving connectivity, accessibility and economic opportunities for communities along the corridor.
