Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - The completion of a long stretch of road between Mesapol and Beaufort, which was under construction between 1998 and 2000, has enabled tourists and business people (including those from BIMP-EAGA) to travel more easily to and from Brunei, as well as other favourite destinations like Kudat, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau on Sabah's east coast.

However, there are still some minor problems. This month saw the longest ever queue to Sabah monitored at Kuala Lurah-Tedungan and Pandaruan Immigration Posts Control.

It was also observed at Puni and Labu in Temhurong, Malabang and Merapok in Lawas and lastly where travellers' passports are checked at Sindumin in Sabah.

A source living in Penampang, who works for an auto company in Brunei, told The Weekend, "I wasted 10 hours travelling to Sabah in a day. On a normal day, it would take only five to six hours, depending on the road and traffic, especially crossing the rivers of Pandaruan in Limbang and

Trusan in Lawas."

Hj Sufri added, "Being stuck in the long traffic queue from Kuala Lurah to Sindumin was tiring. There were no public toilets, except at the immigration posts control. It presented no problems for the men, but how about the ladies?"

The Tedungan Immigration Control Post has also been completed but is not operating as yet. The reinforced concrete bridge at Batang Trusan is another factor contributing to the road congestion for travellers coming from the Federal Territory of Labuan, Sabah, Brunei and Sarawak.

Another problem that needs to be looked into is the iron bridge at Batang Lawas, which should be rebuilt. Observers said that the governments involved also need to install temporarily traffic lights at the site after the Trusan bridge is completed. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin