PAPAR: The tender for the upgrading of Jalan Lok Kawi will be opened by January 2025 to address the traffic congestion in the area, said Papar Member of Parliament Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali. The Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living stated that the open tender is being advertised to companies interested in upgrading the existing road from a two-lane to a four-lane dual carriageway. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Armizan expressed his proposal and appeal to the Ministry of Works (KKR) to finalize the road construction design as soon as possible, with hopes that the tender process could commence as early as December. However, KKR's commitment is to open the tender by January at the latest, with expectations for contractor work to begin by April or May after tender evaluations. In a speech during the Program Semarak Perpaduan Rakyat in Papar, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the Jalan Lok Kawi upgrading project, costing RM67 million, and the Pengalat-Papar Bypass Road Project, at RM538 million. Armizan mentioned that these projects are expected to be completed within three years and emphasized the importance of district officers assisting KKR and other agencies to ensure smooth construction, including negotiations with local villagers affected by the roadworks. The urgency of the road upgrade is underscored by a 2021 KKR study, which estimated that approximately 27,000 vehicles traverse the route from Papar to the city center daily. The project, spanning about 1.3 kilometers from the Sabindo roundabout to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kinarut, includes the construction of a pedestrian bridge, utilities, and land acquisition at a cost of RM67 million. Meanwhile, the Pengalat-Papar Bypass Road project is undergoing consultant evaluation, expected to finish this month, before advancing to the next phase. This project requires an alternative solution to be implemented within the allocated budget, with plans for a new bridge to facilitate movement and reduce traffic congestion around Papar. The project encompasses two components: a new alignment and the upgrading of the existing road.