BRUNEI-MUARA

THE second phase of the Tungku-Jerudong interchange is currently ahead of schedule and the project is expected to be laid out completely in 2015, said a senior official.

The current phase of the project where the road pavement is to be laid out began in November last year and will cost $29 million.

In an interview with _The Brunei Times _on the sidelines of visit by His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s office, the Director of Roads, Yee Kok On, said that the progress of the second phase is at 17 per cent.

“We are currently five per cent ahead of schedule,” said the director regarding the project that would help ease traffic congestions in certain areas.

The second phase of the project includes the construction of a 9km road pavement from Simpang 396 at Jalan Jerudong towards the roundabout near the Agro-Technology Park to the roundabout at Jalan Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah (formerly known as Katok Link Road).

The constructed pavement will function as a two-lane dual carriageway including a roundabout intersection at the midway of the Tungku-Jerudong interchange.

“Currently we rely on Jalan Gadong and the Jerudong area to travel from east to west. With the completion of the second phase, we can ease traffic from Jerudong to Lambak along with its vicinity, and Telanai as well.”

He added that once completed, the area would open for future development plans that include schools, and housing.

“Upon completion, it would improve road safety as the current journey that people take has many accesses and furthermore, it would be more convenient for roadusers.”

To further facilitate smooth-flowing traffic, the director of roads said that the third phase of the Tungku-Jerudong interchange is currently in the process of being tendered and evaluated. If the tender is awarded, the project is estimated to run for a duration of 12 months.

“We can expect it to start once the tender is awarded. If this happens early then we can expect it to completed by the end of next year,” added Yee.

Once approved there will be a widening of existing road pavement to two lanes at two selected simpangs. It will be at a total length of approximately 3km to the flyover at Tungku highway from the slip road off the Rimba highway.

The Brunei Times