Redline Project To Be Carried Out In Phases Once Funds Are Channelled To KKR - Nanta

SIBU, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- 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 said the Redline Project, comprising four main sections, was part of efforts to upgrade the existing federal road alignment that was not included in the original Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway (LPB) Project contract.

“Many do not know that the Redline is not part of the original Pan Borneo contract. These roads were actually built before the Pan Borneo project and were not upgraded under the project.

“The condition (of the roads) is worsening, so we need to rebuild and upgrade them to the same standard as the Pan Borneo alignment,” he said after inspecting the Durin–Salim Section here today.

Nanta, who also conducted inspections of other sections in Miri and Bintulu earlier today, said said the Redline Project was a strategic federal government initiative to upgrade the existing four-lane, dual-carriageway federal road alignment, constructed to the Public Works Department (JKR) R5 standard prior to the LPB project, to enable its integration into the Sarawak LPB.

According to him, the Redline Project stretches 136.74 km and covers four main sections.

These include the Durin–Salim Section (Julau Intersection to Sibu Airport Intersection), stretching 40.27 km, with an estimated cost of RM350 million, and the Kemena Section (Bintulu Airport Intersection to Mile 5), 14.25 km, costing RM131.3 million.

Also included are the Tudan Section (Jalan Pujut Link to Simpang Kuala Baram, Miri), spanning 9.7 km, at RM86 million, and the Batu Kawa–Padawan Section (Batu Kawa Intersection to Serian Intersection), 55.42 km, with an estimated cost of RM345 million.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be more than RM900 million.

“Of this amount, the Durin–Salim Section has been approved with an allocation of RM231 million in Budget 2026 and will be the first alignment to be implemented, as it is categorised as critical following the many accidents that have occurred in the area,” Nanta explained.

He described the approval of the allocation for the Redline Project as good news for Sarawakians, especially users of the main route connecting Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.

Nanta stressed that KKR, together with the Sarawak JKR, will continue to strengthen cooperation to ensure that infrastructure development projects in the state are implemented in a planned, sustainable and high-impact manner.

--BERNAMA