Saturday, December 29, 2012

Collapsed bridge in Puchong put motorists in danger













IT was a rocky year for road users this year with collapsed roads and bridges in Semenyih, Hulu Langat and Sepang.
In Puchong, a bridge along Jalan Pulau Meranti near Masjid Meranti that links Kampung Pulau Meranti to Cyberjaya, Putrajaya and Puchong has partially collapsed, cutting off a key access road for thousands of residents in the area.
Many motorists use the route to avoid paying toll for a highway.
The hole was estimated to be around 3.5m wide and 3m deep.
Residents said numerous complaints to the village chief about tell-tale cracks and small holes found along the bridge was made as far back as six months ago.
Residents said they complained to the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) five months before the incident, when they noticed erosion on the river bank where the bridge was sitting on.
The departments required six months to investigate the collapse and carry out repair works.
A temporary bridge was installed.
To make matters worse, an erosion occurred in Jalan Desaria, Puchong, not far from Jalan Pulau Meranti, a week after the bridge had collapsed.
Sungai Rasau overflowed during Hari Raya Haji on Nov 5, causing water levels to rise to knee-high.
Within 10 minutes, Jalan Desaria was submerged.
Taman Kipark management office had written a letter to the Sepang Municipal Council and DID about the erosion.
However, DID cited a lack of funds as the reason for not fixing the river’s embankment.
Meanwhile in Hulu Langat, a section of Jalan Sungai Tekali was closed after one of its lanes caved in.
This happened less than two weeks after the landslide at the Ampang Look Out Point, which was less than 10km away.
The road, used as an alternative route to Semenyih, has caved 100m to 150m in depth.
A few days later, a road collapsed near the Semenyih dam following a minor landslide in Jalan Kechau.
Five people, who were travelling along the road when the incident occurred, narrowly escaped death.
Related news: http://putraprimapuchong.blogspot.com/2012/10/jalan-pulau-meranti-closed-after.html

Source:TheStar

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