SIBU: The Durin-Salim section of the Pan Borneo Highway will be fully upgraded next year using a RM231mil allocation under Budget 2026.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the 40.27km alignment starts at the Julau interchange and ends at the Sibu Airport interchange.
He said the stretch is in very poor condition and was not included in the original contract for the Pan Borneo Highway project.
"We need to rebuild and upgrade it to be in line with the quality of the Pan Borneo Highway," he said at a press conference after attending a briefing on the project on Sunday (Oct 19)
He added that the upgrading works would be implemented in phases once funds are channelled to the Works Ministry.
He said the Durin-Salim Section would be given priority due to its poor condition, which poses a safety risk to users.
"Many accidents have occurred in this area. This is a critical project that needs to be expedited," said Nanta, who is also Kapit MP.
He also said there are four "red line" alignments identified along the Pan Borneo Highway in Sarawak with a combined length of 136.74km.
These comprise Durin-Salim (40.27km), Batu Kawah-Serian (55.42km), Tudan-Kuala Baram (9.7km) and the Bintulu-Batu Lima Airport junction (14.25km), involving a total estimated cost of more than RM900mil.
However, only the Durin-Salim Section has received official approval so far.
"This allocation was included in the 2026 Budget and is currently being debated in Parliament," he said.
The Redline Project is a federal government initiative to upgrade existing four-lane, dual-carriageway federal road alignments built to Public Works Department (JKR) R5 standards prior to the implementation of the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway project.
With a combined length of 136.74km, the Redline Project covers several key locations along the Sarawak section of the Pan Borneo Highway.
