KUCHING: The Sarawak Northern Coastal Highway (NCH) project, valued at RM6.8 billion, will be officially launched on Nov 1.
The launching ceremony, to be officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at Limbang Recreation Park, will mark a historic moment for the people of Limbang and Lawas.
It also signifies the beginning of a major infrastructure development that is expected to become a key driver of economic growth in northern Sarawak.
According to Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) chief executive officer Datuk Ismawi Ismuni, the project is a major initiative by the Sarawak government under the leadership of the Premier to complete the state’s strategic road network, particularly in the northern border areas.
“The NCH project was personally inspired by the Premier of Sarawak himself, and it will become a modern four-lane highway connecting Limbang and Lawas, while also opening access to Brunei Darussalam, Sabah, and Kalimantan,” he was quoted as saying in a UKAS report during a press conference held here today.
The 87.96-km-long NCH project comprises three sections in Limbang and two in Lawas, stretching from CIQS Tedungan to CIQS Pandaruan in Limbang, and from CIQS Mengkalap to CIQS Merapok in Lawas.
Key components to be developed include two Rest and Service Areas (RSA) in Tedungan and Pandaruan, two iconic bridges in Limbang and Kuala Lawas, as well as several ‘trumpet’ interchanges at strategic locations such as Gelugus and Terusan.
In addition, he said the project will feature the construction of a 1-km viaduct at Bukit Mas, designed in line with environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles to preserve the area’s local flora and fauna.
“This viaduct is not just a road structure, but a symbol of balance between development and environmental conservation.
“This project is more than just a highway — it represents progress, unity, and a more prosperous future for northern Sarawak,” he added.
Furthermore, the NCH will serve as a strategic link between the Pan Borneo Highway, the Sarawak–Sabah Link Road (SSLR), and the Trans Borneo Highway, thereby creating a conducive logistics ecosystem to attract investors and boost tourism, modern agriculture, and the petrochemical industry.
The project is expected to take 48 months to complete and will be fully funded by the Sarawak Government, with RECODA as the main implementing agency.
