Northern Coastal Highway to link Miri-Limbang-Lawas via new road, bridges bypassing Brunei border

July 26,2025

By: DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 26: The Northern Coastal Highway (NCH) project will see the construction of a new road stretching from Miri to Limbang and Lawas, and connected by several strategic bridges including crossings over Batang Limbang and Batang Lawas.

Minister of Works Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi emphasised that the project marks a significant step in transforming connectivity and development in northern Sarawak.

The NCH mainline will connect to the Sabah-Sarawak Link Road (SSLR) at Gelugus, Lawas—where Phases 1 and 2 of the SSLR are currently being implemented by JKR. This SSLR route will enable direct travel between Lawas, Limbang and Miri without passing through Brunei, significantly reducing travel time.

“The NCH project, which covers the Lawas and Limbang divisions, is a crucial component of the broader strategy to establish a seamless road network across northern Sarawak. It is designed to directly link key towns of Miri, Limbang and Lawas,” he shared in his social media post today.

This follows a meeting held today in Limbang, together with representatives from Sarawak and Federal Public Works Departments (JKR), the Ministry of Works, and the Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) to coordinate technical planning for the NCH.

Among the key features of the project include a new alternative road network that fully circumvents Brunei, enhancing domestic connectivity; the construction of major bridges including the Batang Limbang and Batang Lawas bridges to ensure uninterrupted road access across rivers; and support infrastructure that complements the existing Pan Borneo Highway, with a focus on coastal accessibility.

“The Northern Coastal Highway is not just about physical infrastructure. It is a symbol of strong collaboration between the Sarawak government and the Federal government to ensure the new alignment integrates seamlessly with existing federal routes,” Nanta stressed.

He added that the highway will benefit not just commuters but also accelerate economic activities in the northern region, especially in tourism, logistics, and trade sectors.

“It will speed up travel, reduce dependence on Brunei’s roadways, and open new opportunities for development while enhancing road safety and comfort with a fully domestic route,” he said.

Nanta reiterated that the initiative underscores a shared commitment to enhancing rural-urban connectivity and delivering tangible benefits to the people of northern Sarawak through coordinated planning and implementation. — DayakDaily