Small culvert among factors leading to Taman Serdang bridge collapse

Picture by Gary Chen/The Star

BANDAR BAHARU (Bernama): The relatively small size of the drainage culvert at Taman Serdang is among the factors that caused the collapse of the bridge there on Monday (Sept 10) night.

The district engineer at the Kulim-Bandar Baharu Drainage and Irrigation Department Mohd Idrus Amir said the culvert could not accommodate the strong flow and huge volume of the water passing under the bridge, resulting in soil sedimentation.

“When this happens, it causes the water to flow backward, eroding the soil under the bridge little by little until it collapses.

“This is aggravated by heavy rain causing the water in the upper parts of Sungai Serdang to rise and increasing the volume of water flowing this way,” he said when met at the location of the bridge collapse here on Tuesday (Sept 11).

He said the bridge was built about 30 years ago.

In Monday's incident, two teenagers were killed when they were buried under mounds of rubble when the bridge collapsed at around 10.15pm.

They have been identified as Muhammad Haikal Hakimi Mohd Noor, who was riding pillion, and the motorcyclist Mohamad Hazig Ishak, both 17.

Meanwhile, Kulim-Bandar Baharu Member of Parliament Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he had instructed the DID to monitor the condition of all bridges to avoid a similar incident.

He said there were about 1,000 houses located in the area, but the bridge collapse would not affect residents going to Pekan Serdang.  

“There is an alternative route for residents to go to Pekan Serdang, although the distance will be farther,” he added. - Bernama