SARIKEI, Aug 18: After much brouhaha on social media, residents in Bintangor and Sarikei can heave a sigh of relief now that the colour of the iconic bridge connecting the two towns will remain red.
The Public Works Department had received some flak as it started to repaint the bridge as the department had initially chosen green for the undercoat. This had resulted in a debate among people on social media that the bridge would lose its appeal should it be in green.
Meradong assemblyman Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing today urged the people in Bintangor not “to be worried as the bridge will maintain its red colour.”
Ding said he had also received confirmation from the authorities concerned on the matter.
“Meradong district officer, Badjuri Bidin, and Meradong district council engineer, Robin Roy had confirmed that the green colour was only for the undercoat. After that they will paint the bridge to its original red colour,” he said.
The Red Bridge built some 20 years ago, reduces traveling distance between Sarikei and Bintangor by about 15 minutes on Jalan Pasi as compared to using the Bintangor-Sarikei Road.
With the aid of the bridge, the traveling time is just 20 minutes across the distance of 17km.
Motorists coming from Sibu are also using the Red Bridge to cross over to Sarikei from Bintangor.—DayakDaily
