BINTULU: The remaining construction work on the bridge crossing the Kemena River in Sebauh near here is progressing ahead of schedule.
According to Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the construction is 3.64 per cent ahead of its scheduled progress of 9.03 per cent.
He added that the 728.56m bridge costing RM74,893,670 is scheduled to be completed by the end of December 2025.
Uggah expressed hope that the contractor, Hartanah Construction and Development Sdn Bhd, could complete it much earlier.
“I want it to be completed before Christmas or even earlier so that the folk here and everyone else can use it for the festive season,” he said during a site visit on Friday (May 17).
Uggah, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, said he was confident of an earlier completion date based on the contractor’s performance so far.
Besides, he added, Sarawak would, in the coming months, experience dry weather. “I hope the contractor will capitalise on this weather factor to speed up the construction.”
For the record, the project here was once a critically delayed or sick project and its scheduled completion was delayed by three years.
With that, the government had no choice but to terminate the previous contractor although it had completed about 50.61 per cent of the construction.
Hartanah Construction and Development Sdn Bhd, as the rescue contractor, took over the remaining work toward the end of December last year.
It was then given 24 months to deliver the project with the Public Works Department (JKR) Bintulu having been tasked to monitor its work progress.
