SIBU: Travelling between Kuching and Sibu will take only about two hours once the Second Trunk Road project is completed, significantly improving connectivity and accelerating development across central Sarawak, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said.
He said the new road network would create a more direct route linking Kuching to Sibu, reducing the travelling distance by about 140 kilometres (km) to approximately 212 km.
He said this at a dinner with community leaders and ketua kaum at Kingwood Hotel on Friday night (July 10).
“From Sebuyau we will build a second trunk road to Sri Aman and this road will go to Lingga. From Lingga we have built another road directly to Betong, while another road from Lingga will connect directly to Roban via Betong.
“From Roban, the road will continue directly to Sarikei and Sibu. The distance is approximately 212 km, representing a reduction of about 140 km. This means that from Kuching to Sibu, using the new road, the journey will take only two hours,” he said.
Abang Johari said the improved road infrastructure would strengthen integration between Sibu, Kuching and the divisions of Sri Aman and Betong, opening up greater economic opportunities and enhancing regional connectivity.
“This means Sibu will be integrated with the Kuching area as well as Sri Aman and Betong within two hours,” he said.
He added that the enhanced transport network would also improve access from Sibu to the proposed international airport and deep-sea port at Tanjung Embang.
“From Sibu to Tanjung Embang, the journey may take only about one and a half hours, providing direct access to the international airport and the deep-sea port that we are building in Tanjung Embang,” he said.
Abang Johari said the strategic road network would further support Sarawak’s long-term development agenda by improving mobility, facilitating trade and strengthening links between the state’s major economic centres.
