MALACCA: The construction of a Bailey bridge, which is ready for use from today, provides relief to about 5,000 residents, as well as motorists, in Kampung Pulau Gadong and Kampung Setulang Daeng, Melaka.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the Bailey Bridge was successfully completed by the state Public Works Department (PWD), in just three days from Nov 14, with the cooperation of the Temerloh PWD; Petaling Jaya PWD and Kuala Pilah PWD.
“The quick action by Melaka PWD must be praised, because this is its first experience installing a Bailey bridge without the assistance and expertise of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF).
“Usually such bridges are installed with the MAF’s help, and this shows the PWD’s efficiency in installing the bridge in three days, working from 9 am to midnight daily,” he told reporters, after officiating the Kampung Setulang Daeng Bailey Bridge today.
Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s senior political secretary, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin; the state Housing, Local Government, Drainage, Climate Change and Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Rais Yasin; and the state Public Works, Infrastructure, Public Amenities and Transport Committee chairman Datuk Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer.
Ab Rauf added that the temporary bridge was installed to facilitate the local population.
The bridge, measuring 42 metres (m) long and 7.2 m wide, belonged to the state PWD, while Mabey’s Compact 200 (Mabey’s heavy-duty panel bridge constructed from interchangeable steel components), measuring 30 m by 12 m, is borrowed from Petaling Jaya PWD.
He added that the state government had to make an urgent request to the federal government to build a new bridge with a permanent structure, to replace the 25-year-old collapsed bridge.
Meanwhile, resident Chia Kim Tee, 73, expressed his gratefulness for the bridge, which connects Kampung Pulau Gadong and Kampung Setulang Daeng, making it easier for the residents’ daily commute.
“I use this route three to four times daily, especially when buying my groceries in Bukit Rambai. This route is nearer compared with the other routes,” he said.
Kampung Stulang Daeng Village Development and Security Committee chairman Hamzah Ibrahim, 55, thanked the state government for its swift action to overcome the problem.
He said after the old bridge could no longer be used, residents had to use a longer route, which is a distance of about three kilometres, to cross the area.
Previously, the media reported that the 25-year-old bridge linking the two villages collapsed on Sept 22, thus affecting residents in two villages. -Bernama
