By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, June 24: Work to rebuild the iconic Satok Suspension Bridge has reached 75 per cent as of today.
A Sarawak Public Works Department officer told DayakDaily that the hanging bridge is on track to be completed on Dec 20 this year, as scheduled.
A check on the ground showed a huge barge berthed underneath the bridge to facilitate construction works.
The Satok Suspension Bridge, which is commonly known as Satok Yellow Bridge or ‘San Francisco Bridge’, was once a popular spot for courting couples and was the only way to reach Matang.
The older generation of Kuchingites who grew up with the bridge would have fond memories of it.
The bridge was constructed in 1923 and completed in 1926 by architect AS Lowe to hold 0.3m water pipes connecting the reservoir in Matang with Kuching town.
It was 130m long, 2.3 metres wide and was suspended 18m above the river.
The bridge eventually gave in to wear and tear and was closed in 1992 due to safety reasons. It eventually collapsed in October 2004, after serving Kuching residents for 78 years.
The reconstructed Satok Bridge, which will span 213m by 3m is being rebuilt at a cost of RM8.05 million. — DayakDaily
