Miri: Almost RM1bil will be spent by the Sarawak government and the Federal Government over the next three years here as part of a final push to transform this border town into a resort city by 2005.

Over the next 10 months, several multi-million ringgit public infrastructure projects will take off, targeted to be completed in time for the city-status attainment.

According to Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, this year will be a very busy year for the construction industry in Miri.

The largest project will be the construction of the 220km-long Miri-Bintulu coastal road costing over RM500mil.

The construction of a four-lane Lutong Bridge and extension of the Lutong-Kuala Baram road (leading to the border with Brunei), the extension of the Miri Airport, the new Batang Baram Bridge (across the border) and the Miri Marina Park projects will also be speeded up.

Dr Chan, who is also State Finance, Public Utilities and Industrial Development Minister, said another very important project that would go full swing was the construction of the permanent campus for Curtin University of Technology Sarawak, which is based here.

Another major project to be undertaken right in the heart of Miri town is the transformation of the town centre into the "Miri Central Park."

The colonial-style Resident and District Office building will be demolished and the area turned into a green lung to be used for public gatherings, official functions and parades.

It will be similar to the one in front of the historical High Court building in Kuala Lumpur.

Several streets in Miri town will also undergo a major facelift whereby the old shophouses will be renovated or built to suit the city environment.