Kuala lumpur: Upgrading works on the Redline alignment in Sarawak will be carried out in phases once funds are channelled to the Works Ministry (KKR), said Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi. The Works Minister explained that the Redline Project, encompassing four main sections, aims to upgrade existing federal road alignments that were not part of the original Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway Project contract.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, many are unaware that the Redline is not included in the original Pan Borneo contract. These roads were built before the Pan Borneo project and were left out from previous upgrades. The road conditions are deteriorating, necessitating reconstruction and upgrades to match the Pan Borneo alignment standards, Nanta stated after inspecting the Durin-Salim Section.

Nanta, who also inspected sections in Miri and Bintulu earlier, emphasized that the Redline Project is a strategic federal initiative aimed at upgrading the current four-lane, dual-carriageway federal road alignment, initially constructed to the Public Works Department (JKR) R5 standard, for integration into the Sarawak LPB.

The Redline Project extends 136.74 km and includes four main sections. These are the Durin-Salim Section (Julau Intersection to Sibu Airport Intersection) at 40.27 km with an estimated cost of RM350 million, and the Kemena Section (Bintulu Airport Intersection to Mile 5) at 14.25 km, costing RM131.3 million. Additionally, the Tudan Section (Jalan Pujut Link to Simpang Kuala Baram, Miri), spanning 9.7 km, is budgeted at RM86 million, and the Batu Kawa-Padawan Section (Batu Kawa Intersection to Serian Intersection) covers 55.42 km with an estimated cost of RM345 million. The total project cost is projected to exceed RM900 million.

Nanta noted that the Durin-Salim Section has received an allocation of RM231 million in Budget 2026 and will be prioritized due to its critical status, following numerous accidents in the area. He described the funding approval for the Redline Project as positive news for Sarawakians, particularly those using the main route linking Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri.

Nanta underscored the commitment of KKR and Sarawak JKR to strengthen collaboration and ensure that infrastructure projects in the state are executed in a planned, sustainable, and high-impact manner.