PWD engineer Bryan Beta Wong (left) hands over the document to a representative of the contractor while (from third right) Norah, Fadillah, Len and others look on.

SARIKEI: The federal government has approved an allocation of RM48.36 million for the upgrading of Jalan Rentap in Kampung Seberang here.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said on Monday that the project would involve upgrading the existing road from a two-way road to a two-lane dual carriageway based on the Public Works Department’s standard.

“It will also involve improvement to the 120-metre Sungai Sarikei Bridge. This is the government’s initiative to improve public infrastructure to solve traffic congestion in the area, especially during peak hours,” he said at the handing over of the Jalan Rentap upgrading project site at Kampung Seberang Sarikei by PWD to the contractor.

The project started on May 23 and is scheduled for completion on Feb 24, 2019.

Fadillah said they would also build a pedestrian bridge, upgrade the existing traffic light junction and build two new traffic-light intersections and lay-by for buses along the 3.2km stretch of the route.

“Rapid development has contributed to busy traffic in this area. Therefore, the government’s move to upgrade the road is timely and we hope it can be completed within the stipulated time,” the Petra Jaya MP added.

Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh, Tanjung Manis MP Datuk Norah Tun Abdul Rahman, secretary of Development and Implementation Division at the Works Ministry Dato Embok Masek Md Tahir and Sarikei Resident Mohamad Junaidi were among those present at the function.