Nine years. That’s how long Sabahans waited for the Tuaran-Tebobon highway upgrade.

But what’s another year or two when safety clearly isn’t part of the equation?

The federal Pan Borneo Highway project was launched in 2016 with big promises — better roads, smoother travel, stronger connectivity for Sabah. 

Instead, what people on the ground see today is an unfinished pedestrian bridge standing like a forgotten prop on a construction site.

The bridge is useless. It’s fenced off. And every day, residents — including schoolchildren and workers from Kampung Tebobon Baru — are left with no choice but to cross speeding traffic by foot.

“People have died here,” says local resident Aldrin Mohtar. “Our safety is not their priority.”

And it shows.

Businesses at Grand Merdeka Mall have seen customer numbers drop. Workers and shoppers have to risk their lives crossing the highway because access to the mall has been pushed further away.

At night, it gets worse. Broken streetlights. Faded lane markings. And when the rain comes, visibility drops to nothing.

Locals have complained for years. Even the Sepanggar MP had to step in at one point. But nothing has changed. There’s no official data on accidents. No safety report. No urgency.

And no end in sight.

Officials now say the project might be completed by 2026 — that’s a full decade after it started.

Tuaran-Tebobon isn’t the only danger zone.

Over in Lahad Datu, along Jalan Bulan, the story is the same. Roadworks that drag on for years. Poor traffic management. Zero pedestrian safety. Frustration is boiling over.

Contractors seem to be operating on their own terms. And maybe this is just how it works in Sabah.

Because when you look at road projects in Peninsular Malaysia, the difference is night and day. There, you get proper detours. Well-lit roads. Clear signs. Managed traffic.

In Sabah? You get potholes. Poorly marked lanes. Construction zones that feel more like danger zones.

And let’s not forget — this is a federal project. Paid with public money. Yet the public is left to navigate the mess.

The unfinished bridge is more than just an eyesore. It’s a reminder of what happens when deadlines matter more than lives.

Because building safer roads isn’t just about the finished product. It’s about keeping people safe while you build them.

Until that changes, Sabahans will keep paying the price — every single day. – May 16, 2025