S-shaped pedestrian bridge expected to pull in more tourists
KUCHING: The new S- shaped pedestrian bridge named Darul Hana is expected to pull in more tourists to Sarawak.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Darul Hana Bridge would become an integral part of the Halaman Heritage Trail, offering easy access to the city’s historical sites.
“It will play a vital role in making the Halaman Heritage Trail a success by traversing Kuching from the old DUN (State Legislative Assembly) building, passing through the Botanic Gardens and Orchid Garden to the iconic Fort Margherita and the new DUN building.
“The trail continues across the new bridge to the vibrant Kuching Waterfront and the Padungan area and continues on to the famous Old Court House, the Main Bazaar and the new Sarawak Museum campus which is still under construction,” he said before Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud launched the new bridge at Kuching Waterfront here Saturday night.
Abang Johari thus hoped that the new landmark in the city would become an attraction for tourists to visit Sarawak and Kuching in particular.
He said the state’s tourist arrivals had gone up by 16 per cent in the first nine months of the year compared to the corresponding period last year.
He expressed hope that tourist arrivals to the state would continue to increase following the launch of the S-shaped pedestrian bridge.
“This latest iconic structure brings a new exciting era for Kuching City and is something that our people can be proud of.
“The bridge’s unique design, believed to be one of the very few bridges of its kind in Southeast Asia, establishes it as a dramatic new icon for Kuching that brings both sides of the Sarawak River together in front of the State Legislative Assembly building, specifically symbolising the unity of the people of Sarawak despite any divisions caused by a river,” he said.
He pointed out that the architecture of the new bridge, which was mooted by Taib, was executed with beauty, harmony and balance in mind.
“The individual components of the bridge such as the piers and cables all connect seamlessly and each part cannot stand without the other.
“This reflects Sarawak where people of diverse races and cultures unite under the visionary leadership of His Excellency Tun Pehin Sri as we grow in a harmonious society,” added Abang Johari.
He said the S-shaped pedestrian bridge, which was built at the heart of the city’s heritage core, aimed at enhancing connectivity between the city’s north and south for the benefit of both tourists and the people of Kuching.
“It’s graceful curving deck supported by soaring steel cables linked to two juxtaposed hornbill topped towers echo both Sarawak’s traditional Bidayuh bamboo bridges and our curving rivers whilst its futuristic design and engineering innovation symbolise the dynamism of modern Sarawak.
“This Curvilinear Steel Cable Stay pedestrian bridge with a total span of 335 metres covers the Sarawak River’s width of 200 metres. It is built on three sets of in- river bored pile foundations, two for the hybrid concrete and steel towers and one for the southern approach’s span struts,” he added.
He lauded Sarawak Economic Development Corporation ( SEDC) for completing the new bridge across the Sarawak River.
“SEDC has always played its role as the catalyst for the economic development of the state and the new bridge is one such project that SEDC has implemented to complement the state government’s efforts in the development of Sarawak,” he said.
Among those present were Taib’s wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib, Abang Johari’s wife Datin Patinggi Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, DUN speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.