End of an era: Batang Paloh ferry service to cease operations as new bridge opens Oct 30

The Batang Paloh Ferry will cease operations once the Batang Paloh Bridge opens to the public this Oct 30, 2026. Photo: Sarawak JKR/Facebook

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Oct 12: The Batang Paloh Ferry will cease operations once the Batang Paloh Bridge opens to the public on Oct 30.

“The ferry, which has long connected communities and carried countless memories, will make way for a new link that will facilitate daily travel,” said the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) in a Facebook post on Sunday (Oct 11).

The department also encouraged the public to share their memories and experiences of travelling on the ferry.

The bridge project, with a contract value of RM298.98 million, was constructed using the balanced cantilever method and post-tensioned concrete beams, with piling works carried out both on land and in the river.

It also includes about 4.6 kilometres of connecting roads, comprising a two-lane single carriageway, with approximately 1,766 metres of road on Bruit Island and 2,876 metres at Tanjung Manis.

The bridge has two river navigation channels, each 110 metres wide, with 20 metres of vertical clearance to facilitate water transport in the area.

Once opened, the bridge will provide an alternative road link between Mukah, Sibu, and Sarikei, complementing the Pan Borneo Highway and strengthening connectivity along Sarawak’s coastal areas.

The new crossing is also expected to reduce residents’ reliance on ferry services, replacing the existing ferry journey, which typically takes about 30 minutes, with a road journey of only a few minutes.

The improved connectivity is expected to give residents, particularly in Bruit Island, Tanjung Manis, and surrounding areas, better access to schools, healthcare facilities, government administrative centres, and economic activity. — DayakDaily