Sarawak Can Learn From China’s Eco-friendly Highway Development Approach -- Douglas Uggah

KUCHING, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Sarawak could draw valuable lessons from China’s approach to balancing infrastructure development with ecological protection, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

Uggah, who is also Sarawak Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development, said China’s model demonstrated how modern engineering could coexist with nature while improving safety and connectivity.

“We can learn from China’s approach to balancing development with ecological protection. Sarawak’s future infrastructure projects, including highways, tunnels and bridges, should reflect these same principles,” he said in a statement issued by his office today.

He is currently leading a Sarawak delegation to study the Yakang Expressway in Sichuan Province, China, to explore sustainable road and tunnel construction methods suitable for the state’s mountainous and environmentally sensitive regions.

The 135-kilometre Yakang Expressway connects Ya’an City and Kangding in western Sichuan, climbing nearly 2,000 metres through steep valleys, seismic zones and areas prone to heavy rainfall, and is dubbed the “Mount Everest of Highway Construction.”

Uggah said the project, recognised nationally for integrating safety, efficiency and environmental protection, served as a model for sustainable expressway construction in mountainous regions.

He said the expressway aligns with Sarawak’s Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 goals and added that Sarawak plans to adopt similar approaches in future infrastructure projects.

“The Yakang Expressway shows how modern engineering can coexist with nature,” he said.

The delegation also visited the Tianquan Service Area and its Expressway Museum, where they were briefed on maintenance, operational management and real-time monitoring systems.

The 13.4-kilometre Erlangshan Tunnel was among the key sites visited, passing through multiple seismic fault zones and reducing travel across Mount Erlang from a day to just 15 minutes.

They also viewed the Labahe Tunnel Group and the Luding Da Du He Xing Kang Bridge, which showcase advanced tunnelling and bridge technologies that minimise environmental impact.

-- BERNAMA