Bintulu roads ( Part 3)

View of dual carriageway from SMK Bintulu road junction to R3 ( Roundabout Three)

Date taken : circa early 1980's ( Colour photo)

In the early to mid 1980's, Bintulu roads were upgraded into dual carriageways. The construction of the roads were done by the JKR ( Jabatan Kerja Raya) or the Public works Department. In the above picture, the dual carriageway is provided with central two-arm street lighting posts with underground cabling. This underground cabling was considered a modern feature and was effective for intensive beautification or landscaping works because it allowed trees to grow upwards without being obstructed by overhead cables. The central median is planted with low shrubbery shaped in ornamental form ( topiary). On both sides of the road shoulders, Angsana trees ( Pterocarpus indicus) are planted from stumps to achieve an instant planting result. Towards the right of the picture is shown partly the sign bearing the name 'Sekolah Menengah Kerajaan Bintulu' or SMK ( Bintulu Government Secondary School). The school is about three miles from Bintulu town centre.

Date taken : 14 Jan'11 ( Digital Sony-Cybershot)

The tall building at the centre of the picture was completed in 2010. The building called 'Wisma Forego' belonged to a subsidiary of the Bintulu Development Authority ( BDA). This building is part of a major commercial and shophousing project undertaken by the BDA and other private developers on previously state land situated on the left of the carriageway towards the newly completed traffic lights junction ( replacing the Roundabout Three).