Sabah to upgrade SICC-Menera Kinabalu stretch, ditch permanent bridge plan

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 26 — The Sabah Government is set to upgrade the entire stretch from the SICC towards Menara Kinabalu, rendering the permanent bridge replacement at Tanjung Lipat superfluous, according to Deputy Chief Minister I cum State Works and Utilities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam. This revelation came when inquired about the possibility of repairing the bridge, which was closed in late July due to safety concerns.

The Works Department swiftly installed a Bailey temporary bridge, a process that spanned several weeks. This temporary bridge was inaugurated last Friday, with Dr Joachim emphasizing the need to impose weight restrictions due to safety concerns regarding excessively heavy vehicles. Plans are underway to reconstruct the entire road segment from the SICC to Menara Kinabalu, making the construction of a permanent bridge at Tanjung Lipat unnecessary.

Concerns regarding warning markers near SICC and Hakka Hall, which have reportedly been struck by vehicles, were addressed by Dr Joachim, who explained that these markers are meant to alert drivers about vehicle size and weight limitations. Masrul Guding, a representative of roll-on roll-off trailer operators, raised concerns about the alternative route, deeming it difficult and unsafe for the approximately 22-metre-long trailers. This issue has impacted the delivery of new vehicles from Kota Kinabalu Port.