First footbridge with escalator to assist pedestrians to open soon

The first footbridge with escalator in Sarawak costing about RM3 million has been completed.

By Karen Bong

KUCHING, Aug 9: Sarawak’s first pedestrian overhead bridge with escalator linking Timberland Medical Centre and Third Mile Central Park in Kuching city, is likely to be opened to public soon.

A spokeperson from the Corporate Communication Branch of Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak said that the overhead bridge project at Rock Road here costing about RM3 million, which has been completed, is pending testing and commissioning process.


“The overall physical works of the bridge had been completed except for the capital contribution cost to Sarawak Energy Berhad to energise the electrical power of the bridge,” he told DayakDaily through a media release.

A peek inside the project site which has been sealed off to find that the escalator has already been installed.

JKR Sarawak, he informed, had arranged the payment to SEB at the cost required and the bridge will be energised at any time soon.

“Once the bridge received full electricity supply, the testing and commissioning (T&C) will be carried out,” he added.

Thereafter, the Department of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) will need to carry out inspection to ensure the safety of the bridge users before it can be opened to public.

The testing and commissioning process followed by DOSH inspection are expected to be completed by end of this month.

A notice by JKR Sarawak erected on site informed that the bridge project commenced on October last year and completed in April this year.

The overhead pedestrian bridge that uses escalator will also be equipped with staircase on both sides to help people especially elderly and those having problem in their legs easily cross the streets.

Pedestrians can use the escalator for going up and the stairway could be used to walk down when they reach the other side.

It is observed that the purpose of installing escalators to the footbridge was to encourage people to use the bridge.

Moreover, it would help in reducing the risk of accidents when crossing the road.

During a visit yesterday, the DayakDaily reporter noticed that the construction of the bridge and installation of the escalators have been completed a while ago.

According to the notice erected at the site, construction of the bridge had commenced on Oct 27, 2017 and completed on April 24 this year.— DayakDaily

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