Sarawak plans over 500 tree relocation as Santubong KUTS ART project to start next year
The Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) Autonomous Rapid Transport (ART) will soon expand to Jalan Sultan Tengah to link the city and Damai with the project looking at the possibility of saving over 500 trees.
According to news reports, the new transit route, preferbly known as the Santubong KUTS ART route, will see over 1,720 trees affected within the project zone, and 536 trees have been carefully evaluated as healthy and suitable for transplantation.
The move will see these trees transplanted and integrated into several key educational and community areas around Kuching to maintain the region’s urban greenery.
The designated replanting locations include:
- The Aminuddin Baki Institute
- The School of Arts
- Darul Hana
- Jalan FAC
The relocation exercise is expected to take between six and eight months to complete.
To ensure the survival of the transplanted trees, the operation is being carried out jointly by the Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) and the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).
Beyond the Relocation: Infrastructure Plans
Once the tree transplantation clears the necessary space, the main infrastructure phases of the Santubong side of the KUTS ART route a nd project will commence in 2027.
According to Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department, Datuk Dr. Abdul Rahman Junaidi, the broader project includes transforming Sultan Tengah Road into a dual carriageway and constructing a brand-new, second Santubong Bridge.
This new bridge will serve as a dedicated ART crossing over the Santubong River, with the corridor design tailored to local landscapes and space constraints.
Kuching’s landscape is fast transforming with the KUTS ART piers now dotting the city as Sarawak Metro works to complete the first phase of the project.
The first ART is expected to run by the end of the year with others expected to follow later on. To read more articles about the KUTS ART, check this link.
Article sources: TVS
