Uggah: Batang Rambungan Bridge set for early completion despite contractor change
KUCHING (April 28): Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has expressed confidence that the Batang Rambungan Bridge project will be completed nine months ahead of schedule despite a change in contractor.
Speaking to reporters during a site visit to the bridge construction today, Uggah said the RM82 million project, spanning 560 metres across Batang Rambungan, is progressing well under the stewardship of the newly appointed rescue contractor, Titanium Project Management Sdn Bhd.
'This is a rescue project. Titanium is the rescue contractor we appointed to take over from the previous contractor. After our briefing today, their proposed completion date is July 2027, but based on today's discussion, we have directed them to complete it by July 2026 which is nine months earlier,' he said.
Uggah noted that Titanium Project Management has a strong reputation and demonstrated capability, adding that most of the necessary construction materials are already on-site, with only the bridge cables yet to arrive.
He also highlighted that sufficient workers are in place and the project is currently 2.7 per cent ahead of schedule, with physical completion at 5.26 per cent compared to the planned 2.52 per cent.
'Given their resources, experience, and financial strength, I am confident they will be able to meet the new target. We are optimistic, although we must still pray for favourable weather, which is a critical factor in construction works,' he said.
He stressed that continuous monitoring will be carried out, with another site visit planned within the next month or two to oversee the project's progress.
Acknowledging that the Batang Rambungan Bridge, at 560 metres, is relatively shorter compared to other major bridge projects like the 4.8-kilometre Batang Lupar Bridge, Uggah said its smaller scale further supports confidence in early completion.
Uggah also explained that Titanium Project Management took over the project five months ago and first had to coordinate with the former contractor to ensure all previously completed structures could be properly integrated and continued.
In another development, Uggah disclosed that the state government is working on a proposal to upgrade several village roads in Sarawak to state road status.
This move, he said, would enable greater funding allocations for their maintenance and repairs under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) fund.
He added that the Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak is finalising a working paper for Cabinet approval, with preliminary figures estimating that about 7,000 kilometres of village roads across the state require upgrading or rehabilitation.
'We are serious about improving our rural infrastructure and have identified many damaged and poorly maintained roads. Once we get Cabinet approval, we will proceed with upgrading works,' he said.
Uggah was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak Datuk Aidel Lariwoo, Sarawak JKR director Dr Cassidy Morris and other officials during the visit.
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