After damaged Sg Baleh bridge cuts off Bario’s road link, Gerawat calls for review of contract strategy

MIRI (Oct 10): A steel bridge across Sungai Baleh on the road from Long Banga to Pa Dalih was damaged by the raging river and severe erosion on Tuesday.

Deputy Minister in Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala said this has cut off road access to all 18 villages, two primary schools, one secondary school, and two clinics in the Bario Highlands area.

“I have informed JKR (Public Works Department) Miri and they have instructed their contractor to go on site to assess the situation and do a temporary timber bridge across Sungai Baleh to restore connectivity to these villages, schools, and clinics, while waiting for a more permanent bridge to be built,” he told The Borneo Post.

The Mulu assemblyman said community leaders have reported the trail of destruction caused by the current rainy season and flooding, with damaged log bridges and landslides on the road to Long Lellang, Long Jekitan, Long Semiang, Pa Dalih, and near Tanjung Tepalit in Ulu Baram.

He said JKR had awarded three contracts for a term of two years early this year for the repair of roads in Ulu Baram, particularly abandoned logging roads, with a focus on ad hoc repairs as and when damage occurs.

“This contract strategy needs to be reviewed to include scheduled and preventive maintenance by the contractor, which will enable the contractor to detect potential damage to both roads and bridges before such damage occurs and allows the contractor the opportunity and sufficient time to mobilise and rectify and prevent the potential damage from occurring,” said Gerawat, who is also Highland Development Agency deputy chairman.

“This may be more costly but will be a better strategy or approach and will be more cost effective in the long run. The contractor could set up a few forward bases for their machinery, manpower at strategic locations in the area to enable them to do both preventive maintenance and undertake repairs to damaged roads and bridges within an acceptable time such as within one day.”

To ensure rural communities will also be part of this journey towards achieving the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, Gerawat said the Sarawak government will continue to allocate a significant portion of its budget to development.

“The costs of upgrading, maintaining, and building new roads in the remote rural areas such as Ulu Baram are very high and the government will keep upgrading the roads and build new roads in phases to provide connectivity to all longhouses and villages throughout the state,” he added.