LAWAS, LIMBANG TO BE FIRST AREAS FOR SARAWAK'S ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY HIGHWAY - ABANG JOHARI

KUCHING, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Lawas and Limbang are to be the first areas in Sarawak selected for the building of an environmentally-friendly highway using new technology, Sarawak premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said.

The construction of the Northern Coastal Highway uses the Highway Information Modelling (HIM) technology to ensure the road structure is built according to the terrain contour without hill cutting or destroying the ecosystem, he added.

“Previously when you built a road, you would cut the hill, now we don’t disrupt the environment. We use HIM technology that allows us to build roads according to the terrain so that the environment is preserved,” he said when he launched the project in Limbang today.

He pointed out that the construction, based on digital data, also used piling to ensure the structure’s stability even in soft soil conditions, avoiding the problem of uneven road surfaces after several years.

Sarawak intends to carry on with the project even though the overall costs are high at an estimated RM6.8 billion, as it was in line with the principles of sustainable development and the state’s commitment to maintain the natural beauty of its northern region.

“If the state is developed, people will come from afar to enjoy its natural beauty. This modern road not only helps connectivity, but also raises the value of the area as we do not touch the existing greenery,” he said.

He also noted that the construction of the highway would be a catalyst for the economic development of the northern region, and improve connectivity between Lawas, Limbang and the border areas with Brunei and Sabah.

-- BERNAMA