BEAUFORT: Kampung Lubok Weston villagers can finally breathe easy as the long-awaited upgrade of their dilapidated wooden bridge takes shape, ending years of safety concerns.
Resident, Mohd Jeffry Tupung, 53, welcomed the government’s initiative to replace the aging structure spanning Sungai Lubok, which serves as the main access route for the community.
The father of four said the single-lane wooden bridge had become increasingly unstable after more than 50 years, shaking dangerously whenever vehicles crossed it.
“We were genuinely worried about this bridge. Our fears grew thinking it could collapse at any moment if left unattended,” said Jeffry, who is also Mukim Satu Weston community leader.
“Thank God our concerns have been addressed through this upgrade project, reflecting the government’s commitment to public safety and wellbeing. We are particularly grateful to Lumadan incumbent Datuk Ruslan Muharam, whose initiative made this project a reality,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ruslan who inspected the project site with officials from the Beaufort Public Works Department, said construction which began early this year is now 40 per cent completed and expected to finish by August next year.
The RM5.6 million project involves building a stronger steel bridge with two vehicle lanes to replace the old single-lane structure. Work was briefly delayed due to technical issues involving relocation of electrical poles, but this has since been resolved.
“This was among our priority to ensure the safety of villagers and surrounding communities who depend on this route,” said Ruslan, who is also PBS Vice President.
Additionally, he said other longstanding village issues have been addressed, including frequent water supply disruptions through maintenance of storage tanks and deepening of the Sungai Lubok estuary to allow fishermen better access during low tide.
