Kuching ART progress: More piers and pier caps up, work starts shifting to station construction
The Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) and its Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) are rapidly taking shape across Kuching and Samarahan. Many piers and pier caps have been installed along elevated routes, while several at-grade sections are already nearing completion.
Based on recent observations, the elevated ART route along Jalan Tun Jugah is progressing quickly, with the piers and pier caps already fully installed.
Furthermore, most of the piers between the Kenyalang Interchange and the Kuching International Airport (KIA) have been fitted with U-beams, signaling that construction of these elevated sections has entered a new phase.
Judging from the physical progress seen, it appears that this particular section will be among the first elevated routes completed under the ART project.
This route connects the Kuching Sentral Station (SR05), Kuching International Airport Station (SR06), Pelita Heights Station at the Kenyalang Interchange (SR07), Jalan Tun Jugah Station (SR08), VivaCity Station (SR09), and the major Simpang Tiga Station (SR10/SM10).
Observations suggest that the elevated ART route from Kuching Sentral Station to VivaCity Station (part of the Red Line) will likely be among the first elevated routes and stations to reach completion.
The Red and Blue Lines will interchange at the Simpang Tiga Station (SR10/SM10), where construction is currently at its peak.
Road diversions and ART construction works in the Simpang Tiga area are the busiest in the city, as Sarawak Metro works to minimize traffic disruption despite the massive scale of the project.
Meanwhile, the at-grade Blue Line route – stretching from Rembus (SM00P) in Samarahan to Stutong (SM07) – is nearing completion. Several stations, including those in Stutong, Riveria, SALCRA, and UNIMAS, are already taking their final physical shape.
The Northbank Station in Stutong has been identified as one of the first ART stations to be completed, with current efforts focused on final finishing and detailing.
In the Satok area, construction of the Hikmah Exchange ART Station (SM14) at Padang Pasir is gaining speed, although work on the approach routes appears to be in the early stages.
This progress is likely slower due to the complexity of utility relocation, as the area is one of the oldest parts of Kuching.
This route, also part of the Blue Line, will pass the Sarawak General Hospital, Wisma Seberkas, and Batu Lintang before meeting the under-construction The Spring Station (SM11) at Simpang Tiga.
With major works in progress, traffic diversions have become the norm along the Samarahan Expressway, Jalan Tun Jugah, Jalan Simpang Tiga, and Jalan Tun Razak.
A portion of the KUTS ART system is expected to be operational by the end of this quarter. Two ART vehicles—one already named “Bulan”—are expected to service the route from Rembus to Northbank (Stutong).
About the KUTS ART
The Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) is a transformative infrastructure project in Sarawak, featuring a network of hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) vehicles.
Designed to alleviate traffic congestion, the system uses trackless, rubber-tyred trams that operate on dedicated lanes, offering an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional rail.
Phase 1 spans 69.9 kilometers across three lines, supported by hydrogen-powered feeder buses for first-and-last-mile connectivity.
KUTS serves as a cornerstone of the state’s green mobility strategy, with pilot operations scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.
To learn more on the KUTS ART Project, check out Sarawak Metro’s website.
