Tawau road landslide: Interim measures while awaiting Federal funds — Pairin
TAWAU: Interim action over a period of six months is proposed for implementation by the Public Works Department (PWD) to resolve the landslide problem of the Sandakan-Tawau Road at Mile 14, Apas Road while awaiting approval from the Federal Government for an allocation of RM9.5 to RM10 million for a longterm solution.
Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Infrastructure Development, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, disclosed that the application for the necessary funds and paperwork has been submitted to the Federal Public Works Department on December 26, 2017 outlining the proposed scope of works to resolve the landslide problem affecting the road.
In the short term, PWD would create a temporary road diversion of the dual carriageway using contraflow traffic movements and for the exposed slope surface to be protected using water-proof canvas cover. Drainage would also be diverted and the existing sump or culverts closed, besides installing a piezometer and and inclinometer to further monitor the movement of road slope.
According to Pairin, this main trunk road has more than 14 years history and is a major federal road linking Tawau and other districts like Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu and Sandakan, besides serving as the main road to the Tawau airport.
Factors leading to the landslides were apparently caused by a rise in groundwater table due to heavy continuous rainfall, with the lowest point of failure experiencing run-off convergent that led to soil saturation, compounded further by leakages of water pipes and continuous water flow from the dislocated culvert.
Furthermore, there was a reported minor earthquake of Richter 3.7 magnitude at 3.23 am on December 21, 2017, about 50 kms southeast of Tawau which could be one of the factors for the landslide, but this would require further study of its implications, if any.
According to Pairin, the landslide area covers an area of 60 metres long, 45 metres wide and 24 metres high and has rendered the road impassable.
Hence the need for a temporary road diversion using contraflow traffic movements towards Tawau.