Roundabout 3 Before, Major Traffic Lights Junction Now

In 1990, Bintulu had its biggest roundabout at KM 5, Bintulu- Miri Road. The Roundabout was plainly called Roundabout 3. At a corner of the roundabout was located JKR's temporary stock pile area for road and infrastructure construction materials.  An indoor badminton stadium was also built at one end of the state land on which the two facilities were built.

Looking at the place today, the changes is beyond recognition.  That site has been taken up by commercial buildings development undertaken by the private sector.

As at the point of writing the commercial shophouses are ready for occupation.  

As Bintulu moved into its Millenial Growth Era ( i.e. after its last fourth boom) and starting in 2016, the town remains the brightest star in its capacity as Sarawak's prime example of rapid physical development,  socio-economic progress, urban population growth and proper town planning.

Date taken : September, 2021.

 

Date taken : August, 1990.

Down town image shows Bintulu entering the Millenial era

View of Bintulu when as a 'sleepy village and town image' in 1955, showing the 'old town' across river from village.
(Photo credit : Ho Ah Choon, " Sarawak in Pictures - 1940's -1970's)

View of Bintulu down town with extensive development in the background, after a succession of four economic booms.
This picture is in cognizance of Bintulu entering the Millenial era i.e 2016 onwards.
The basically Melanau populated fishing village is seen in the foreground of the picture.
( Picture taken on 1 Jan'16 using Samsung Galaxy Note II )

For those not familiar with the developmental history of Bintulu, I would like to recap on the boom years starting 1979 (first boom) which jolted Bintulu from a once sleepy town and village to an industrial 'city' it is today.  The last of the economic boom - the fourth boom (2010 - 2015),  ushered in a new chapter in the growth of Bintulu.  The fourth boom has brought deep and extensive ripple effects in the economic landscape of Bintulu.  Additionally, what the fourth boom has done  too is in the creation and build up of a series of new synergistic interplay of economic renaissance forces on this consistently booming town.  In my periodisation of Bintulu history, I call the period beginning  2016 as the "Millenial era".  The Millenial era can safely be divided further into the Industrial decade (2016 - 2026) and after that or after achieving the official status of an industrial city, Bintulu will be propelled forward into the Post - Industrial era - i.e. 2026 onwards ( and it is to later historians that the timing be worked out).