KAPIT: Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi inspected the newly completed Katibas Bridge last Friday.
The bridge is a vital link to Kapit, Song, Sibu and other major towns in the state.
Nanta was accompanied during the site inspection by Kapit District Officer, Elvis Didit, Song District Officer, Jackline August , project manager of PWD Central Region, Jawa Gara, heads of the various government departments and local community leaders.
During the inspection, Nanta also attended a briefing on the completion of the Katibas Bridge conducted by Regional Manager of the Public Works Department of the Central Region, Cassidy Morris.
After the briefing, Nanta and others inspected the bridge.
Nanta disclosed that the Katibas Bridge was officially completed on 6 July although the date of completion will be on14 July, 2017.
The 330-metre bridge spanning the Katibas River was open to the public last Saturday.
Nanta advised the bridge users to be cautious.
“But if you think of going all the way to Kapit you may not be able to do that easily. You can but you still have to go through a stretch that is not really completed yet along Sungai Mumu and Sebatu area which is about four to five kilometres from this bridge up stream along the Rajang River. That stretch of road is really still very slippery, narrow and quite high in term of the gradient.
“Anyway, the stretch of the road all the way up to Sungai Yong is still considered a construction site. We cannot say that it is open to the public which is not allowed even though one can travel all the way to Kapit. If they wanted to do that, it is at their own risk. My advice is if they really have to use it to travel by road from Song to Kapit, they must be very careful and at their own risk. They must be mindful that this road project is still under construction.
“But for the purpose of this bridge, the stretch of the road after this bridge is quite safe to use as far as the Embuau area. We are sensitive to the public as they wanted to use the road and the bridge. We allow them to use it. That is the meaning of opening to the public (bridge and road). But as road users they must fully understand the liability and also the safety concern of this project,” explained Nanta.
He also commended all the stake holders involved in the construction and added that the PWD is supervising the construction and also commended the contractor and consultant for doing a good job.
The RM71. 5 million Katibas Bridge and 5.475 kms of road started from Jalan Takan to Sungai Embuau.
