PAPAR – Three out of 35 packages of Phase 1 of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project are expected to be fully completed by the end of this year, said Deputy Works Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup.
He said two of the packages are Package 27, which involves an 8.1km-long road from Kg Lot M to Mile 32 Sandakan and Package 21, involving the 7-km Lahad Datu Bypass.
“The other package, which will be completed soon, is Package 5 involving a 11.39-km road from Papar to Penampang, this road is 99.1% complete and has started to be opened to the public.
“There are only minor works that have not been completed such as the installation of road signs,” he told reporters after checking on the progress of Package 5 here today.
Phase 1 involves 706km from Sindumin to Kota Kinabalu, then onwards to Kudat; as well as Tawau to Mile 32 Sandakan to Ranau.
Commenting further, Arthur said the implementation of several other packages in the Sabah portion of the highway was going smoothly and would be able to be completed according to schedule.
Meanwhile, on the delay in the implementation of some parts of the project, he said there were several factors that caused this with the main one being the spread of Covid-19.
“We all know that the country has been dealing with the contagion, which has caused many things to be delayed, including the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway.
“However, it is not a problem because what is important is the implementation of the (project) according to the scope of work that has been set for the safety and comfort of the public,” he said. – Bernama, September 26, 2022
