Sarawak builds its own way forward

KUCHING, Aug 26: In a vast and diverse State like Sarawak, roads and bridges are more than just infrastructure—they are lifelines. They connect remote communities, enable trade and access to services, and strengthen the social and economic fabric of the State. Recognising this, the Sarawak government has embarked on an ambitious, State-led infrastructure development, under the leadership of Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

This commitment became even more pronounced when three Federal funded bridge projects were cancelled. Rather than letting development stall, Sarawak stepped in, having announced the initiative to undertake the projects in December 2018. The projects were the Batang Lupar 1 Bridge, Batang Igan Bridge, and Batang Rambugan Bridge, and those projects, financed entirely by the State, exemplified Sarawak’s resolve to pursue progress without waiting for federal handouts.
The Sarawak Budget 2025 reflects this drive for infrastructure development, allocating RM1.31 billion to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) for the building of bridges and roads—a 64 per cent increase from the RM799.52 million in 2024. This marks a renewed emphasis on timely completion, as stressed by Abang Johari on October 26, 2024.

Bridges of Transformation

Sarawak is undergoing a bridge-building boom, with 12 transformative bridges, costing a total of RM4 billion, spearheaded by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government. These toll-free bridges are designed to eliminate ferry dependence, open up new areas, and improve rural access. Notably, several are being completed ahead of festive seasons to better serve the people. The landmark Batang Lupar 1 Bridge, at 4.8km, will be the longest river-crossing bridge in Malaysia. The project was originally planned under Federal funding but was shelved in 2018. In response, the Sarawak government revived and fully funded the bridge at a cost of RM848 million. Now scheduled for completion by December 2025, with public opening planned for early January 2026, it replaces the Sebuyau-Triso ferry link and connects Samarahan and Kuching.

Meanwhile, Batang Lupar 2 Bridge (RM224 million), at 145.5m tall, poised to become Malaysia’s tallest cable-stayed bridge and a new Sri Aman landmark, is due in June 2026. As of April 9, 2025, has reached 57.99 per cent progress.

The Mukah division is seeing an unprecedented concentration of strategic bridge projects. The Muara Lassa Bridge, also known as the Batang Lassa Bridge, spans 2.43km and will be the second longest bridge in Sarawak once completed. It is being built at a cost of RM597.58 million, and will connect Daro to Pulau Bruit while also linking with the Coastal Road Network to Matu and Mukah. The bridge entered its pre-launch phase on January 9, 2025.

Nearby, the Batang Paloh Bridge stretches 1.7km and is being constructed at a cost of RM298 million. It connects the Paloh area to Pulau Bruit, enabling travel across a region previously dependent on boat services. As of March 26, 2025, it had reached 75.25 per cent completion, below the projected 84.63 per cent. The Batang Igan Bridge, measuring 1.4 km in length, carries an estimated value of RM286 million. It connects the town of Igan to Sibu and was initially a federal project scrapped in 2018. In 2019, the Sarawak government assumed full financial responsibility. By January 2024, the bridge had reached 60.77 per cent progress and was expected to be completed by April 2025. Once operational, it will close a longstanding gap along Igan and Matu areas.

One of the earliest major completions in 2025 was the Batang Rajang Bridge, a 1.4km span valued at RM321 million. Pre-launched in March 2025, it is poised to shorten travel between Sarikei and Tanjung Manis, reducing journey times from over two and a half hours to just 45 minutes. In Betong, the Batang Saribas 1 Bridge was completed and was opened to the public shortly before Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2025. Constructed at a cost of RM375.5 million, the bridge forms a vital component of the Sarawak Coastal Road Project, shortening the journey between Pusa and Beladin, while also serving as an alternative route to the Pan Borneo Highway.

The Bintulu-Jepak Bridge, another landmark project, was officially opened to the public on March 23, 2025. Spanning 1.2km, the bridge features a striking single-pylon cable-stayed design and cost RM467 million to build. It connects Bintulu town centre to Jepak and the Samalaju Industrial Park, and is already being dubbed “Sarawak’s Golden Gate” due to its architectural form that is often likened to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The bridge plays a strategic role in easing traffic congestion and facilitating access to industrial zones. To the southwest, the Batang Rambungan Bridge, valued at RM98.5 million, serves as an important link, connecting roads from Rambungan, Sempadi, and Lundu areas. It was initially classified as a sick project due to contractor issues, but has since been revived and rescheduled for completion by 2027. Once completed, it will deliver the southernmost portion of the Coastal Road Network.

Other significant bridges include the Batang Saribas 2 Bridge in Betong, a RM385 million project slated for completion by the third quarter of 2026. Together with Batang Saribas 1, this bridge forms part of a critical corridor along the Second Trunk Road. In the northernmost region, the second Sungai Limbang Bridge, valued at RM188 million, is now under construction and will form part of the future Limbang–Lawas federal highway. With its current progress at 74 per cent, it is expected to be completed by end-2025, and will help link the Limbang division directly to Brunei. In Miri, the Kampung Bulau Bridge (RM6 million) is currently under construction as part of a broader regional initiative led by the Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA). This bridge forms part of the strategic link connecting Miri city to the rural hinterland. Further inland, the Marudi Bridge, which is nearing completion for 2025, will replace ferry services across the Baram River and serve as a primary land link to the Marudi town centre.

Building Roads to A Connected Future

Running parallel to its bridge development, Sarawak’s road infrastructure is being transformed through two flagship projects: the Coastal Road Network and the Second Trunk Road (STR). As of March 30, 2025, the Coastal Road Network, a sprawling 896km route from Kota Samarahan to Miri, was 78 per cent complete and is projected for full completion by 2027. Its cost totals RM5.42 billion and includes 13 new roads and bridge packages alongside 29 rehabilitation works. Once complete, it will significantly reduce ferry dependence, with the nearly completed 136.95km Mukah-Bintulu stretch providing uninterrupted travel via the Muara Lassa Bridge.

Constructing since 2020, the STR (RM5.58 billion), a 225km expressway cutting through the State’s interior from Batang Samarahan Bridge to Roban, has been progressing steadily at the 30 per cent completion as of March 30, 2025, with 15 of its 20 projects already underway. Slated for full completion by 2028, the STR offers a faster alternative, cutting travel between Kuching and Sibu to 225km, compared to 400km via Pan Borneo. The STR and Coastal Road combined are valued at RM11 billion, with RM5.9 billion allocated specifically for 16 accompanying bridges, all fully funded by Sarawak. These roads have opened up isolated hinterlands, like the Ulu Paku-Ulu Kota Link Road and the Igan-Sibu route, with Phase One of the latter completed in early 2024.

Building Roads to A Connected Future

Beyond the mega-projects, targeted rural infrastructure development is underway. Under the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (12MP), the State approved RM616 million worth of projects, including the Jalan Ulu Tinjar upgrade (RM130 million) and the Sepupok-Bakam road in Miri (RM157.9 million). In northern Sarawak, the Northern Coastal Highway will connect Limbang and Lawas through Brunei, with works began by late 2024. In the south, RM750 million has been allocated for four major projects to ease congestion in Batu Kawa, including a 9.5km dual carriageway and a new link to Jalan Kuching-Bau, scheduled to begin in 2026.

Meanwhile, the Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA) is actively delivering road upgrades in remote areas. One such initiative is the RM57 million road between Kampung Rambai and Kampung Bulau, which links several villages such as Rambai, Sinup, Butak, and Belau to the Pan Borneo Highway, marking a leap forward in rural inclusion and accessibility.

In the face of Federal withdrawal, Sarawak has demonstrated its capability and will to build. From iconic bridges like Batang Lupar 1 to strategic expressways like the STR, every road and bridge serves as proof of Sarawak’s self-reliance and vision. These projects are not merely about concrete and steel, they are about uniting communities, stimulating local economies, and laying the groundwork for a prosperous, connected future.