Dr Jerip: ART alignment all elevated at Jln Wan Alwi, first section of Blue Line expected to begin operations in Q4 2026

Borneo Post

20-05-2025

Photo shows the final livery design selected for the ART. – Photo from Facebook/Unit Komunikasi Awam Sarawak – UKAS
KUCHING (May 20): The Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) alignment for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) at Jalan Wan Alwi will be entirely elevated, said Datuk Dr Jerip Susil.
The Deputy Minister of Transport revealed that the section will include two elevated ART stations.
'One will be located in front of Vivacity Megamall and the other near Kuching Lodge School,' he said during the question-and-answer session at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today.
He was responding to See Chee How's (Independent-Batu Lintang) question on the progress of Phase 1 of the KUTS project involving the ART.
'The operations of KUTS Phase 1 will be carried out in stages, with the first section under the Blue Line from Rembus to Riveria, now anticipated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026,' he said.
He said work progress on the KUTS Phase 1 Project now stands at 29.89 per cent compared to the planned 33.86 per cent.
According to Dr Jerip, the variance of -3.97 per cent is due to construction delays.
He added ART operations will be carried out in stages, with full operations expected to commence in 2028.
On the Transit Signal Priority (TSP) system planned for the Batu Lintang area, Dr Jerip said there will be one TSP junction in Batu Lintang, located at the Jalan Bampfylde-Jalan Batu Lintang traffic light junction, near Kuching Water Board.
He said there will also be a station at SM12, Batu Lintang, which is in front of Public Works Department Kuching Divisional Office, with an elevated design.