Kota Kinabalu: The State Government plans to upgrade the entire stretch from the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) towards Menara Kinabalu, making the permanent replacement of the bridge at Tanjung Lipat unnecessary.
Deputy Chief Minister I cum State Works and Utilities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said this when asked whether there were any plans to repair the bridge.
The bridge located at Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens at Km 2.85 along Likas Bay was closed after being found unsafe for use in late July.
The Works Department moved quickly to install a temporary Bailey bridge at the site, with installation taking several weeks.
The Bailey bridge was opened to the public last Friday.
“The temporary bridge is completed, but we have to limit the weight to a certain amount because we are also concerned about safety when it comes to vehicles that are too heavy,” he said.
“We actually have plans to redo the whole stretch from SICC up towards Menara Kinabalu.
“So, there is no point for us to build a permanent bridge at this point because there is a plan to upgrade the road,” he said.
Regarding concerns raised about warning markers near SICC and Hakka Hall that have reportedly been hit by vehicles, Dr Joachim said the markers serve to alert drivers whose vehicles exceed the permitted height or weight limits.
“The markers are actually meant to warn the public not to use the road if their vehicle is too tall or too heavy,” he said.
Recently, a representative of the roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) trailer operators, Masrul Guding, said the alternative route provided was difficult and unsafe for the approximately 22-metre-long trailers.
He said the situation affected the delivery of new vehicles from Kota Kinabalu Port.
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