For coastal-road users, the immediate change is a fixed road crossing in place of a ferry-dependent link. The opening ends ferry services at this crossing; it does not mean all ferry crossings elsewhere on Sarawak’s coastal route have been replaced.

DayakDaily, citing the Sarawak Public Works Department, reported that the RM298.98 million bridge was opened through a soft-opening ceremony and symbolic release of traffic.

The two-lane bridge is 1.7km long. Its approach-road works cover another 1.71km on the Pulau Bruit side and 2.932km on the Tanjung Manis side — separate figures from the bridge’s own length.

The new link gives residents and motorists a direct land crossing over Batang Paloh. Wider benefits for trade, agriculture and tourism along the coastal corridor are expected, but no quantified journey-time saving was stated in the report.