GEORGE TOWN, May 26 – The Komtar Octopus pedestrian bridge located at the intersection of Jalan Penang, Jalan Burma and Jalan Dr. Lim Chwee Leong is expected to be fully completed by end of August 2017. Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng hold a press conference this afternoon to advise on the latest status of the upgrading works for the bridge.
Syarikat Ensignia Construction Sdn Bhd executive director Lim Gik Chay said construction works at two of the pedestrian bridge’s legs at the Dr Lim Chwee Leong Road and Jalan Penang (Komtar Walk) junction had been completed while just waiting for the green light on by Department of Occupational Health and Safety to allow the commission of the two lifts and escalators by June 2017.
Commenting on the delay of the bridge’s upgrading works, Gik Chay said there were several contributing factors. He said building activities cannot be done for all corners at the same time, as the public still need to use the overhead bridge. He said it also due to underground services. He also cited theft and vandalism as among the factors for the delay, adding that they had filed six police reports.
Lim said the upgrading works for the bridge at a cost of RM6 million started at February 2015. It is undertaken by Ensignia Construction Sdn Bhd as a corporate social responsibility project of the company. Ensignia Construction is a subsidiary of IGB Corporation Berhad, a company based in Kuala Lumpur.
When ready, the bridge, which was first built in 1993, will have lifts and escalators at each of the four legs of the bridge for the elderly and disabled. Also present were MBPP mayor Datuk Patahiyah Ismail, MBPP secretary Ar Yew Tung Seang, IGB Corporation Berhad director of design John Slater Bailey, Ensignia Constrution Sdn Bhd executive director Lim Gik Chay and Ooi Hock Yang of LSB Akitek. — PN
