Photo of Katibas bridge taken from Nanta’s Facebook page.
SIBU: The completion of the Katibas Bridge is behind schedule because of an alteration to its design and the specification of its pillars. The bridge which was supposed to be ready for use by March has been rescheduled to be completed in July.
As a result those who drove to return to their longhouses in Song and Kapit for Gawai Dayak were stranded on Saturday as they were not allowed to cross the bridge.
The RM71-million Katibas Bridge project which includes the construction of a 5.4km road from Takan to Sungai Embuau started in Sept 2014.
Addressing the disappointment of the people affected by the delay, Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi explained the delay through a Facebook post on Sunday.
He said that although the bridge had already been erected and connected both sides of Sungai Katibas, vehicles were not allowed to use it at the moment as the bridge is not ready for use yet.
“The reason for the delayed completion of the bridge as scheduled in the contract which was March this year is because the consultant changed the bridge’s design and specifications of its pillars and currently it is unsafe for use by any type of vehicles.
“Due to this, the contractor is given Extension Of Time (EOT) to July 7 this year to allow fully completion of the bridge so it will be safe,” he said.
Furthermore, he said some stretches of the road from the bridge to Kapit are not fully completed and not safe to drive on. He pointed out the road section at Nanga Sebatu, located upriver of Sungai Katibas, is narrow and steep and from his visit there he found out that it is dangerous use that road.
Some of the cars stranded at Katibas bridge after they were not allowed to cross over.
Nanta who is also Kapit MP later appealed to the people to be patient as the delay is for the safety of those who use the road. He advised them not to be instigated by certain quarters for political mileage.
“I would appeal to Paren Nyawi (DAP Katibas chairman) not to stoop so low to try to gain political ground on this.
“It would be more honourable and meaningful if you (Paren) can be more sincere in helping the people to be better informed on this whole matter. No good would come out of making people more frustrated and angry especially during Gawai,” Nanta said.
He added it is better if they can help the people sincerely for example by advising them about safety when returning home for Gawai instead of instigating them.
Song is now connected by land to Kanowit via a plantation road in Ngemah area.
It is understood that people from Song had started using the earth road to get Majau jetty in Kanowit since last month.
With the opening of Kanowit bridge to public on Saturday, the people from Song, Ngemah, Ngungun, Poi and Majau now can drive all the way to Kanowit town and to here.