According to a Borneo Post Online report, Masing, who is also infrastructure development and transportation minister, said construction was now proceeding smoothly.

In his winding-up speech at the state legislative assembly yesterday, he said the work on the Bintulu (43km), Serian-Pantu junction (74.7km) and Bintangor junction-Sg Kua bridge (75.6km) packages were all progressing as scheduled.

“Another eight packages are now in the tender stage and expected to be awarded by the year end,” he was quoted as saying.

He added that when completed, the Pan Borneo Highway would stretch 1,098km spanning across Sarawak and would eventually connect to Pan Borneo Sabah.

“Except for Sematan to Telok Melano which will be a two-lane single carriageway, the rest of Pan Borneo Highway will be a four-lane dual-carriageway.”

He stressed that the road would be toll-free, and would be the only four-lane dual-carriage way road in Malaysia to be toll-free.