Villagers soon to have motorable bridge to connect them
KAPIT: Residents of Kampung Baru along Jalan Suhaili and Kampung Muhibbah Bletih here will soon have a new iron bridge across Sungai Kapit to link the two villages.
For the past 20 years, they have been depending on the wooden suspension bridge which is narrow and shaky; only allowing pedestrians and motorcyclists to pass through. An alternative when they need to visit relatives or friends at the other side of the river is to travel along Jalan Airport and Jalan Bletih to reach their destination.
However, it is a long journey. The folks now are eagerly looking forward to the opening of the iron bridge to the public, which is expected to be ready by next month.
Penghulu Abang Hamzah Bolhassan said the suspension bridge would not be closed when the iron bridge is open to traffic as it would be repaired for the use of pedestrians. He explained that although the suspension bridge is wide enough for a car to pass through, the village security and development committee had decided to erect a beam on both sides of the bridge to prevent the public from driving through.
Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit Unyat on Saturday inspected the site and work progress. He was accompanied by Abang Hamzah, Penghulu Sia Shui Poh and his assistants Edward Manggah and Cochan Alwi.
“I am happy that finally
I am happy that finally the work is progressing very smoothly the past few months. Earlier, there was a delay due to wet weather and high water level at Sungai Kapit which affected the piling of the pillars. Few months ago, I met the sub-contractor and he promised to speed up the work. Now, it is almost completed. Jefferson Jamit Unyat, Bukit Goram assemblyman
the work is progressing very smoothly the past few months. Earlier, there was a delay due to wet weather and high water level at Sungai Kapit which affected the piling of the pillars. Few months ago, I met the subcontractor and he promised to speed up the work. Now, it is almost completed,” said Jamit.
He thanked the government for allocating funding for the new bridge, which he said would give convenience to the villagers and others from Kapit Town going to the various government agencies at Bletih as it would shorten travelling time.
On his part, Abang Hamzah thanked Jamit for his personal concern over the progress of the bridge.
“We are very thankful to Jamit who followed the progress of the bridge construction. He made a number of inspections to check the progress of the project. We are also thankful to the government for allocating funds for this bridge, he said.