KUCHING, Feb 14 — Traffic along the busy Jalan Kuching–Batu Kitang–Bau stretch in front of Kampung Haji Baki has fully resumed, bringing relief to thousands of daily road users after weeks of disruption caused by an embankment collapse and a burst water pipe.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Lo Khere Chiang confirmed that the road was officially reopened to traffic at about 1pm today following the successful completion of repair works by JKR Sarawak together with the appointed contractor PPES Works Sdn Bhd.
The incident occurred on January 9 when a section of the road embankment gave way, causing a major water supply pipe from the Batu Kitang Water Treatment Plant to burst. The damage led to serious traffic congestion and inconvenience for motorists, especially those who rely on the route daily. More than 50,000 vehicles use this road every day, making it one of the most important links connecting Kuching to Batu Kitang and Bau.
Following a site inspection today, Lo expressed appreciation to all parties involved for completing the repairs within three weeks, as promised. He described the timely completion as a strong example of coordination between government agencies and contractors in addressing public infrastructure issues.
He also reminded motorists to continue driving carefully when passing through the area, even though traffic flow has returned to normal. The temporary diversion road that had been constructed to ease congestion from Batu Kitang towards Kota Sentosa has now been closed following the reopening of the main route.
Lo explained that traffic volume along this stretch usually increases during weekends and public holidays, reaching up to 53,000 vehicles a day. Many road users travel from Kuching and Samarahan to popular destinations such as Lundu, Telok Melano, Sematan and Biawak near the Sarawak–Kalimantan border, making the smooth operation of this road crucial for both daily commuters and the tourism sector.
With the repairs completed, traffic congestion during peak hours and festive periods is expected to ease significantly. The reopening is also expected to restore normal travel time and improve road safety for motorists.
Also present during the site visit were JKR Sarawak senior principal assistant director Fum Sze Chee and Kampung Haji Baki Penghulu Saptuyah Yusuf, who observed the final condition of the repaired embankment and road surface.
The successful reopening of the road marks the end of a challenging period for road users and highlights the importance of swift action in maintaining key infrastructure across Sarawak. — TheBorneoPost
