Sarawak’s highly anticipated Batang Lupar 1 Bridge is officially opening to the public today, 21 May 2026, at 4:00pm, as announced by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The opening comes just in time of the upcoming Gawai and Hari Raya Haji celebrations, which are expected to see increased intercity travel across the state.
Stretching 4.8km across the Batang Lupar river, the cable-stayed bridge is currently Malaysia’s longest river-crossing bridge.
The RM900 million toll-free bridge, fully funded by the Sarawak government, connects Sebuyau and Triso (Maludam). It eliminates one of the final major ferry bottlenecks for road users travelling between Kuching and other parts of coastal Sarawak.
JKR Sarawak has confirmed that the bridge will be open to traffic from 4:00pm today (21st May 2026).
Meanwhile, the existing Sebuyau-Triso ferry service at Batang Lupar will cease operations tomorrow, 22 May 2026.
The bridge was built as part of Sarawak’s broader Coastal Road Network and Second Trunk Road development plans aimed at improving transport links and reducing dependency on ferry crossings across the state.
The Batang Lupar 1 Bridge is a two-lane single-carriageway bridge built to JKR R5 standards and supported by 87 river piers. Construction began in 2021.
Abang Johari said with the new bridge, people can return to their hometowns easily for Hari Raya Haji and Hari Gawai celebrations. He said there will be no more need to wait for the ferry.
The Sarawak Premier said in the past, travelling to Simanggang town could take around six to seven hours and the new road and bridge networks have significantly reduced travel time to the extend that one can make a breakfast there and return to Kuching for lunch.
Under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), Sarawak had undertaken the construction of 21 major bridges. Out of the 21 bridges, 10 have already completed and opened to the public, which replaces six ferry services. He shared that an additional 8 bridges are expected to be completed by the end of this year.
