Sungai Marang bridge upgrading project expected to complete in Oct 2025 -Fadillah

MARANG, Jan 25  -- The RM338.5 million upgrading project of the Sungai Marang bridge that commenced in Dec last year, is expected to be completed in Oct 2025, said Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

He said the high-impact infrastructure project would smoothen traffic flow on the bridge which has been increasing every year, adding that it could reduce travel time by at least ten to twenty minutes during rush hour.

Fadillah said the bridge which was built in 1960 could no longer handle increasing traffic volume.

"In addition, this upgrade project will allow fishing boats, especially from Zone C (12 to 30 nautical miles from the coast) and C2 (more than 30 nautical miles from the coast) to use alternative landing locations specified for such vessels such as the Chendering Jetty (in Kuala Terengganu),” he said, adding that this would boost the state fishing and tourism sectors.

He said this to reporters after attending the project’s groundbreaking ceremony at Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kuantan, here today, which was officiated by Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.

He said the Sungai Marang bridge is one of the bridges in the state listed in the bridge replacement programme under the 12th Malaysia Plan to be given priority as requested by the state government.  

In another development, Fadillah said the Works Ministry would submit several more applications to the Ministry of Finance (MOF), including requests to extend the Variation of Price (VOP) period in government work contracts, to help contractors to deal with soaring prices of building materials and logistics due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The VOP period had previously been extended to June 30 this year.

In addition, Fadillah said his ministry would submit an appeal to the MOF to add more building materials under the VOP implementation, of which 14 materials have been listed.

“We will also re-evaluate the types of projects that are eligible for VOP. Currently, only projects based on conventional tender and design and build tender are eligible…we have to see and discuss with the MOF how we want to handle such high costs so as not to burden contractors and ensure that projects for the people can be completed on time," he said.

According to Fadillah, the rise in building material prices is a global phenomenon due to the COVID-19 pandemic which, among others, has affected processing activities, leading to the hike in the cost of raw materials.

-- BERNAMA