KUCHING: The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) has taken delivery of three Bailey bridges from the federal government.
SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas confirmed that while one Bailey bridge from the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) had already been delivered earlier, two additional units have now arrived.
“These bridges will help us repair and replace damaged structures caused by last year’s disasters.
“We are grateful, and with these Bailey bridges, we can address several issues more quickly and efficiently,” he told a press conference after a handing over ceremony for the bridges at Senari Port, here today (Aug 5).
Uggah, who is also the Deputy Premier, suggested that NADMA consider supplying more Bailey bridges for Sarawak, and some to be kept as standby infrastructure to enhance the state’s readiness for emergency situations such as collapsed bridges or cut-off roads.
“Sometimes, when a bridge collapses, it takes us a year or two to construct a permanent replacement.
“With Bailey bridges, the foundations may take a month, but the bridge itself can be assembled in just a week. This greatly reduces the burden on the people,” he said.
He said that Sarawak has already identified approximately 200 critical bridge routes that either require Bailey bridges or full reconstruction.
To date, 19 bridge projects have been tendered, with another 10 to be tendered soon under the programmes managed by the Public Works Department (JKR) and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD).
Regarding the installation timeline, Uggah explained that once the foundation work is completed, typically within one to two months, the Bailey bridge structure can be assembled within a week.
The current installation sites include Sungai Balleh in Bario; Sungai Benuang, Long Jeeh and Sungai Bunau, Long Tebangan in Baram.
All three are expected to be completed by October 2025, ahead of the upcoming monsoon season.
