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| End of the road: Liow (second right) surveying the caved-in section of the bridge in Bentong. Looking on is Pahang Public Amenities and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Soffi Abd Razak. |
BENTONG: A bridge linking Kuala Lumpur and Raub and the rest of southern Kelantan has been temporarily closed to traffic due to damage caused by swift currents on Sungai Bentong.
Both ends of the bridge along Federal Route 8 (Jalan Bentong-Raub) were damaged following heavy rain on Saturday night.
“There is erosion at the location which has been confirmed to be dangerous for road users,” said Bentong MP and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who visited the site yesterday.
He said the Public Works Department had swung into action when the danger was discovered at 5am.
The bridge located near the Customs building is only open to pedestrians and motorcyclists.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, who was also at the scene, said internal shuttle buses had been arranged for Bentong folks from 6am to 7pm daily.
“The public can walk across the bridge and hop onto the bus to get to town,” he said.
Bentong OCPD Supt Mohamad Mansor Mohd Nor advised motorists to follow signboards that would lead them to alternative routes.
“(For those coming from Kuala Lumpur), do not turn into Bentong, but continue with the journey and exit at Karak and head towards Cinta Manis, and then on to Jalan Sertik-Mempaga to get to Raub and beyond,” he said.
Liow also explored an alternative route nearby so that motorists can continue their journey unimpeded.
“After a survey, we found that the road is not suitable, and I have suggested to the Yang DiPertua of the Bentong Municipal Council to turn it into a jogging track,” he said.
He added that the council was also in the midst of upgrading a road through the housing estates from Taman Bukit Bentong to Sungai Marong for the local people’s convenience.
Those seeking latest updates can check the East Coast Expressway operator’s feed at twitter.com/LPTTrafik.
Earlier, in GENTING HIGHLANDS, Liow said Malaysia, China and Australia were discussing adding a fourth vessel, Fugro Supporter, in the search of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.
Currently, Go Phoenix, Fugro Discovery and Fugro Equator are involved in locating the aircraft, which vanished on March 8 last year en route to Beijing from KL with 239 on board, in a 60,000sq km section of the southern Indian Ocean.
“We have completed 26% of the plan,” Liow, who is MCA president, told the press after closing the Negri Sembilan MCA cadre training camp yesterday.
Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/01/12/Bridge-linking-KL-and-Raub-closed-Both-ends-of-the-structure-damaged-due-to-swift-currents/
The Star - Malaysia - BEH YUEN HUI
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