Kuching: The opening of the Batang Lupar 1 Bridge marks a significant milestone in Sarawak's infrastructure development and is expected to spur economic growth, agriculture, and investment across the coastal districts of Sebuyau, Betong, Sri Aman, and Samarahan, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. He emphasized the bridge's strategic importance in transforming development along the state's coastal corridor by improving the movement of people, goods, and agricultural produce.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Sarawak Premier highlighted the bridge's historic significance in completing connectivity between Kuching, Sri Aman, and Betong, including Samarah. These areas previously relied on ferry services, which faced numerous issues such as tragic incidents caused by strong waves and winds at the Batang Lupar River's mouth. The bridge's construction was driven by local community requests, conveyed through former and current elected representatives, to connect these areas.
The 4.844-kilometre bridge, constructed at a cost of RM848.75 million, is a key component of the Sarawak Second Trunk Road (STRR), developed to provide a more efficient and modern coastal road network. Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas noted that the bridge ends the long-standing dependence on the Sebuyau-Triso ferry service. As the state's Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, he stated that the bridge is integral to the RM3.21 billion Sarawak Coastal Road network under the STRR project, scheduled for full completion by 2030.
The new road network is expected to significantly reduce the travelling distance between Kuching and Sibu from 396 kilometres to 252 kilometres, cutting the journey by about 144 kilometres. With the bridge's completion, ferry services are now obsolete, as crossing from one side to the other previously took up to an hour, with bad weather often disrupting the journey.
At the inauguration ceremony, the Batang Lupar 1 Bridge was recognized by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) as the longest bridge spanning a river in Malaysia. The certificate of recognition was presented by MBOR representative Megat Faris Hussein Megat Muzaffar Shah. This recognition further solidifies the Batang Lupar 1 Bridge's status as a new engineering landmark in Sarawak and a symbol of the state's ongoing transformation through major infrastructure development.