Jalan Gurdwara bridge in Ipoh safe, cracks superficial, says city council

 IPOH: The bridge on Jalan Gurdwara in Buntong here is safe to be used by motorists, says the Ipoh City Council.

City council chief assistant engineer Mohd Zamri Mohd said they conducted a check on the bridge after a video had gone viral on social media alleging that the bridge had cracks on the road and was not safe.

"We felt compelled to counter the baseless allegations made.

"The bearing underneath the bridge is still in good condition while the cracks pose no threat to its structure," he told a press conference on Tuesday (Oct 4).

"We can assure that the bridge is still structurally sound," he added.

He had said this after visiting the bridge with Ipoh Barat MCA coordinator Low Guo Nan, city councillor S. Jeyagopi and representatives from Puncak Emas Infra Sdn Bhd, the concessionaire appointed by the city council to maintain or repair its public infrastructures.

A one-minute and 27-second video has been circulating on social media recently, alleging that the bridge was not safe to be used due to the cracks on the road.

When asked what caused the cracks on the road, Mohd Zamri said it was normal for it to occur.

He said bridges would usually have a gap as it was made from several connecting components.

"The extreme weather can cause the bearing, made from rubber and steel, to expand, so the bridge will move slightly," he said, adding that the bridge was also over 30 years old.

"The city council will discuss with Puncak Emas Infra how to cover up the cracks," he added.

He also said that Jeyagopi had alerted the city council earlier this year about the cracks.

"We checked it then and found that it posed no threat so we did not take any action," he added.

Jeyagopi said he urged the people, especially netizens to verify with the respective authorities first before circulating anything on social media.

"The viral video about the bridge being dangerous has caused some concerns to the public," he said.

"Netizens have rights to upload things on their social media account, we don't deny it, but it is advisable that, if possible, check with the authorities first," he added.

Low said that it was important for people to find solutions rather than point fingers.

"This is why we invited the city council and Puncak Emas Infra to visit the area with us," he said.

"To ensure the bridge is safe to be used, checks must be conducted from time to time," he added. - Star