Matang Highway Project, Sarawak
Project Objectives

http://www.zecon.com.my/images/matang_highway2.jpg

The principal objective of this project is to construct a feeder trunk road that will provide free-flow access to the new Federal Administrative Centre in Matang, Sarawak, 20 kilometres northwest of Kuching.

The proposed Matang Highway commences on the east bank of the Rayu River. It connects the Federal Administrative Centre and Kuching City via a 2-lane, dual-carriageway road.

The highway will also serve as a primary distributor road to the northwest region of Kuching. Therefore, its introduction is expected to enhance agricultural and tourism development in that region.

Construction of this highway commenced in July 2002 and is targeted for completion in December 2008. On 9 November 2007, Zecon received Certificate of Delay and Extension of Time from Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) which extends the completion date from 14 December 2007 to 22 December 2008. Upon completion, the road will enable direct Kuching-Lundu access, thereby relieving congestion on the existing Matang Road.

* This revised route project was offered as a supplementary to the existing Matang Highway project which the original contract sum has been revised.

Contract Sum (RM)
124,140,000
Commencement/Completion
2007/2011

Source: http://www.zecon.com.my/current_projects/matang-highway-project-revised-route/

New Matang highway to complete on schedule
Thursday, October 02, 2008

KUCHING: The new highway leading to the proposed ‘mini Putrajaya’ or Sarawak’s new Federal Administrative Centre in Rambungan near Matang is expected to be completed in December.

The current progress status of the highway, consisting of 18km double-carriageway and a gateway bridge modelled after the one in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, is 76 per cent.
This highway, which stretches from Rambungan to Taman Matang Jaya, was the Original Matang Route.

The 13.3km Revised Matang Route, which is from Taman Matang Jaya to Demak (not far from Sarawak Stadium), is currently four per cent completed and is expected to be ready by March 2011.

Both the Original Matang Route and Revised Matang Route, costing a total RM325 million and spanning a total 31.3km, are being built and designed by local firm Zecon Berhad.

Zecon executive director Abang Azahari Osman said yesterday both projects are progressing according to schedule.

“Upon completion, the road will provide free-flow access to Rambungan.

“It will also help to decrease the traffic volume thus providing relief from congestion on the existing Matang Road, especially for those living in Matang,” he told reporters at the project site yesterday.

Earlier, Azahari held an on-site briefing on the project for officers from JKR.

There was also a group from Saudi Arabia construction company, Bin Jarallah Group, led by its senior consultant Dr Hazem Mazen, brought there by Zecon group managing director Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

The Saudi group is in Kuching to hold talks on joint venture with Zecon.

According to Azahari, the Original Matang Route was revised because the state government wanted to avoid traffic congestion at the Petrajaya roundabout leading to the Satok Bridge.

“The government had vide the Letter of Acceptance of the Revised Matang Route, varied and substituted the terms, provisions, design, scope of work, specifications and other details of the Main Contract, which resulted in the Original Matang Route being shortened by 7km, from 25km to 18km from Rambungan up to Taman Matang Jaya.

“The said 7-km two-lane double carriageway which was to link with the city of Kuching at the Petrajaya roundabout, is replaced by a 13.3 km two-lane single carriageway Revised Matang Route,” he said.

Works on the Original Matang Route started in 2002 while works on the Revised Matang Route started in July last year.

According to him, works to lay in the premix for the lanes for the highway in Original Matang Route would commence next month.

“As for the gateway bridge over Sungai Salang, it is also the first concrete arch bridge in Sarawak. It is almost similar to the one in Putrajaya, and according to the wishes of then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad when he came to Rambungan years ago,” he said.

He also expressed confidence that the new highway would pave the way for direct Kuching-Lundu access and enhance the promotion of agriculture and tourism development in the local area.

Rambungan, which is near Lundu, is the site for the 2,020-acre proposed new Federal Administrative Centre for Sarawak.

Meanwhile, Zecon corporate affairs private manager Brandon Goh said public knowledge on this project had been very limited as it was almost not visible from the existing road.

“That is why we invited the media to come here, so that the public will be able to know about this project, especially those residing along Matang,” he said.

Progressing

Matang Highway, Kuching
Was los in Matang area and found this new highway but manage to shot few picture.

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http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7889/image040b.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/6735/image039.jpg

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Best highway in Borneo sofar!!! :cheers:

This project need update...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matang_Highway

I hate this highway, because there are no interchange/flyover to prove the claim of 'free-flow traffic from Rambungan to Kuching'. Just imagine lah, people who wish to go to Kopodims housing areas have to cut through to this highway. I thought they will do it just like Serian Highway, with proper U-turn lanes and stuff... but it's simply a cut-through junction! I can bet u if many cars speed using this highway, then we can see Kopodim's population become smaller because of too many accidents.

Matang highway @ Kuching



http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/7466/p1020497q.jpg

When can it be completed? The date of completion always drag on...

This highway also provides a direct Kuching-Lundu
Taken from http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/11ThO8uCzF09amFWWzlZ5A

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1mkzphaYQC4/STVPKeg0D_I/AAAAAAAAAn4/40AkmykRr6U/P1030157.JPG

Please tell me that road/highway is no where near completion :)
It would be simultaneously sad and hilarious if anyone is to drive all that way and suddenly face prospect of a 'U-turn' or 'reverse drive' - if Nazrey's pic is anything to go by ! :D

They should have make a tolled expressway where traffic moves smoothly.

they should have invested in rail rather than road..

kinna cool to have kuching own commuter services..

They cannot make up their mind until the next electionslah.Remember sibu!!!

Connect to Lundu? Of course lah. Once u reach Rambungan, u already stone-throw away to Lundu. Road linking Rambungan and Lundu is quite good.. but last time when I used that road, it was so sunyi. No single vehicles passing by. It's like jalan hantu.

Connect to Lundu? Of course lah. Once u reach Rambungan, u already stone-throw away to Lundu. Road linking Rambungan and Lundu is quite good.. but last time when I used that road, it was so sunyi. No single vehicles passing by. It's like jalan hantu.

it's so scary kalo mcm tu..... senang2 org bleh kena rompak! police/ highway rangers kena kerap ronda jalan tu :)

it's so scary kalo mcm tu..... senang2 org bleh kena rompak! police/ highway rangers kena kerap ronda jalan tu :)

No lah.. I think because this road is not ready yet to open. That's why so sunyi sepi.

they should have invested in rail rather than road..

kinna cool to have kuching own commuter services..

It's better to invest in roads in this particular area as the road system in Sarawak is not well developed. Roads are in fact will make more impact to the communities surrounding the area coz people own cars, motorcycle, lorries, pick-up trucks to move around and transport their goods to their final destination. Trains however have fixed route and stations and it's quite a hassle to the people to move around.

Unless, when a good road system already in place..then the govt might consider commuter trains as another mode of transport.

Picture of new Matang Highway (still under construction tho')

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs023.snc4/33501_433625719768_571694768_4375737_4058565_n.jpg

As usual, no standard signboards. English is the main language.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40523_433625824768_571694768_4375742_4132429_n.jpg

Nice view.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs238.snc4/39260_433625829768_571694768_4375743_1301907_n.jpg

During my visit to one of my uncle this raya, which is located at Kopodims, I was forced to cross over this Matang Highway. And guess what.. they put the traffic lights there! OMG... traffic light for a highway? These bitches must be kidding me.

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/7466/p1020497q.jpg
>>>
by polytikus

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http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1422/5472810819_dc28c9b5b7_o.jpg

When this highway can be completed. :ohno: :ohno: