SMK to Bintulu town ( 1980's)

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

In the 1960's there was a small gravel path road from the Bintulu town that ended at the Bintulu Government Secondary School's (BGSS) junction, seen at left in the picture above. The school is about three miles from Bintulu town. In the early 1970's the road was slightly improved. However it was in the early 1980's that extensive improvement were done that changed the road into a dual carriageway. The school was renamed in Malay as Sekolah Menengah Kerajaan Bintulu (SMK Bintulu)

View from school junction to town today.

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

With the fast tempo of development planned for Bintulu starting in the 1980's, traffic to and from town increased tremendously and so was the number of heavy vehicles on the road. Many amenities were added to the carriageway like proper pedestrian and cycle-path, bus shed,central median lighting with underground cabling and a pedestrian overhead bridge for safety and convenience.. The local authority took the opportunity to plant Angsana trees (Pterocarpus indicus) as shade trees in order to create the green wash and aesthetics to urban roads.

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).