KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry has identified a total of 1,624 ageing bridges nationwide, most of which were built before 1975 or have been in service for over 50 years.
According to News Straits Times, Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said these bridges have surpassed their intended lifespan, which generally ranges between 50 and 120 years depending on design, materials, environment, and maintenance factors.
“These bridges are considered ageing as they have exceeded their design lifespan,” he said in a written parliamentary reply to Onn Abu Bakar (PH–Batu Pahat) on Monday (Oct 27).
Onn had asked about the number of ageing bridges nationwide and the government’s allocation for their repair or replacement.
Nanta explained that the Public Works Department (PWD) routinely assesses the structural condition of bridges to determine whether they require replacement or maintenance.
“Bridges that remain structurally sound will continue to undergo routine maintenance under the Bridge and Culverts Maintenance Programme, carried out six times a year for protocol roads and twice a year for primary and secondary roads,” he said.
Nanta said maintenance works cover five key areas — cleaning weepholes, clearing waterways and bridge carriageways, removing vegetation, tightening bolts and nuts on railings, and realigning dented railings.
“For bridges needing minor repairs, works are implemented under the Non-Pavement Periodic Maintenance Programme, subject to available allocation and the scope defined in the existing concession agreement,” he added.
Between 2023 and 2025, RM59.5 million have been approved for bridge maintenance nationwide, including RM11.04 million in 2023, RM23.5 million in 2024, and RM24.97 million in 2025.
“For bridges with major structural damage that require specialised expertise for repairs or replacement, funding applications are submitted to the ministry and forwarded to the Economy Ministry for consideration as new projects,” Nanta said.
Under Rolling Plan 1 of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), central agencies have approved bridge repair and replacement projects worth RM329.2 million involving 16 locations nationwide.
He added that bridges are classified according to load capacity — HA loading for general traffic such as small and medium vehicles, typically on rural roads, and HB loading for heavy or abnormal vehicles, usually on main roads and highways.
