Green Light for Tamparuli-Ranau Highway Upgrade

The Tamparuli-Kiulu-Rondogung-Ranau route in Sabah is officially slated to be upgraded to a highway as an alternative alignment under Phase Two of the Pan Borneo Sabah Highway project, the Ministry of Works has confirmed.

The proposed infrastructure development aims to alleviate growing traffic congestion along this vital corridor, which connects Tuaran to the state’s interior districts.

The comprehensive upgrade will be executed across three main segments, all adhering to the Public Works Department’s (JKR) R4 design standards.

According to the structural plan, the 24.8-kilometer stretch of Jalan Kiulu-Pahu will undergo the most significant expansion, being upgraded to a four-lane dual carriageway.

Furthermore, Jalan Pahu-Rondogung (21.66 kilometers) and Jalan Pahu-Tamparuli (15.72 kilometers) will both be systematically upgraded to two-lane R4 roads.

Regarding the project’s timeline, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan informed the Dewan Rakyat that implementation will commence in the subsequent package, immediately following the completion of the current phase of the Pan Borneo Sabah project.

While preliminary data from 2024 indicated that the road’s Level of Service (LOS) remained at “Level A”—suggesting adequate capacity for existing traffic flow—the Ministry has acknowledged the concerns of local representatives and motorists regarding recent congestion.

Consequently, a new, updated traffic study has been commissioned to accurately assess the current LOS around the Tamparuli area.

In the interim, the Ministry of Works has stated that JKR will collaborate with local traffic authorities to devise and implement temporary traffic management strategies.

These measures are intended to ensure smoother transit for both daily commuters and commercial transport navigating Sabah’s mountainous terrain until the permanent highway upgrades are finalized.

Info source: Sabah First Info | Image is generated by AI and for illustration purpose only