SIBU: The 88km Sibu-Tanjong Manis road is currently 96% completed.

The RM530mil project, which includes the construction of eight bridges, began under the Ninth Malaysia Plan in 2006.

The huge amount is the single largest funding allocated for the implementation of an infrastructure project in Sarawak by the Federal Government.

Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said when fully completed in May this year, the road would play a pivotal role in the economic development of Sibu and its surrounding areas as it would link the town with Tanjong Manis Industrial Zone in less than an hour.

He said Sibu would stand to benefit from increased business and development opportunities especially from projects implemented in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy such as the halal hub in Tanjong Manis, which will be the biggest halal food processing project in South-East Asia.

Shaziman inspected the road yesterday with Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King and Sibu JKR chief engineer Vincent Tang.

When asked on the status of the Lanang bridge, which the state government had proposed to the Federal Government to take over its management and abolish the toll, Shaziman said his ministry had, in principle, no objection.

However, he said the ministry would need to gather more information for Cabinet discussion.

Wong had said recently that the state government had submitted a proposal to take over the management of the 1.2km bridge from Shin Yang Group which completed it in 2006.

The group was given a 30-year concession to collect toll.

The toll is 50 sen for a motorcycle, RM3 for a car, RM5 for a four-wheel drive, RM8 for a bus, RM15 for a lorry and RM25 for a trailer.

(Source  : The Star Online, 14/4/2011)