The 600m long Sepanggar Tunnel, part of an almost 3km new stretch of highway infrastructure was launched today and will be open for public access on 18 November 2017.

The launching ceremony was attended by Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan representing Sabah Chief Minister, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman. The project was undertaken by the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) and Public Works Department (JKR) with Pembinaan Azam Jaya Sdn Bhd as the main implementor of the project.

The RM81.5 million dual-lane twin carriageway tunnel, will connect Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) and facilities such as Sepanggar Bay Oil Terminal and Sepangar Bay Container Port. The new route will shorten journey times by 15 minutes and is 6km shorter between the two points, compared to the existing route.

Giving a speech on behalf of the Chief Minister, Tan Sri Joseph said that with the launching of the tunnel it is hoped that KKIP and Sepanggar Port will be able to compete with other ports in the state. He also added that industry players, as well as small and medium enterprises, will be able to benefit from improved infrastructure and create more opportunities for the public and private sectors, respectively.