Lee (second left) is briefed by the contractor during the site inspection.
MIRI (June 12): The culvert along Jalan Riam Lama will be enlarged under a reconstruction and replacement project by the Public Works Department (JKR), said State Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.
Lee said the existing 1.5-metre-wide culvert is no longer adequate given the rapid development taking place in the surrounding area and the additional projects planned for the future.
“All water runoff from housing developments and new projects in the vicinity flows through this culvert, and its current capacity is no longer sufficient to accommodate the increasing volume of discharge,” he said, noting that the erosion in the area has also affected the roadway.
According to Lee, the project experienced delays due to differing views on the design between the divisional JKR office and its headquarters.
“I have contacted JKR’s senior principal assistant director who is responsible for this project and explained that the old design is no longer suitable,” he said during a site inspection yesterday.
Following further evaluation, he said JKR has approved a new design prepared by a professional engineer, which proposes replacing the existing structure with a twin box reinforced concrete culvert system.
“Each culvert will have a width of 3.3 metres, giving a total width of 6.6 metres and a height of 2.1 metres to accommodate the large volume of water discharge from surrounding areas and future developments,” he said.
Lee said the project is intended to provide a permanent solution and prevent recurring drainage and erosion problems.
The contractor is expected to begin site preparation works immediately, with major construction scheduled to commence on June 22.
He acknowledged that the issue has persisted for some time, largely because discussions over the design required careful consideration.
“What is important is that we are on the ground and understand the actual conditions as well as the developments taking place in this area,” he said.
Noting that Jalan Riam Lama serves as a major access route for two villages, a primary school, a secondary school and Miri Hospital, Lee said the upgraded culvert must be capable of meeting both present and future needs.
“Once the culvert structure arrives, installation and construction are expected to take approximately 90 days to complete,” he said.
Road users have been advised to expect some temporary inconvenience during the construction period as sections of the road may need to be closed in stages.
“We will keep the public informed in advance and issue notices to allow road users to utilise alternative routes throughout the construction period,” he said.
Also present was Miri Division JKR engineer Stephen Ung.
