Damaged Kepayan walkway repaired
Published on: Thursday, January 14, 2021
By: Sidney Skinner
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Security tape and signs were put around the area where these Kolombong grilles have been removed.
A hole found on the concrete walkway outside this Kepayan home.
“A metal plate was initially placed over the hole as a temporary measure to safeguard the public. “One of our contractors, later, demolished the affected section of the walkway and had it rebuilt.” He said City Hall did not have a fixed schedule for structural maintenance on this structure. “This is done as and when it becomes necessary to do so. To this end, we hope ratepayers staying here will alert us to any problems involving the structures in the common area, including the walkway.” The spokesman said this would allow the agency to deal with such irregularities as soon as possible. BERNICE of Kepayan voiced her concern about the safety hazards posed by the “hole” outside her front gate, off Lorong Cindul 1. She said the damaged section, located between her driveway and the housing road, was roughly one metre wide and one metre deep. “When I first noticed this irregularity, I became afraid that the tyres of my car might get stuck in the hole as I drove to and from my home,” she said. “To prevent this from happening to either me or my visitors, I placed a piece of wood over the affected section. “I also inserted an old broom into the hole as an added precaution.”
A City Hall contractor in the process of reconstructing the walkway.
She said the width of the walkway had narrowed because of the damage. Bernice was under the impression that this structure had not been maintained in some time. She said the cracks first appeared in the concrete some time in December, following the downpours in that month. “After Christmas, I reported this road woe to City Hall. I tried phoning the agency a week later when no action was forthcoming but my call went unanswered. “I cannot understand why the agency’s officers are dragging their feet to attend to the walkway.” Bernice hoped action would be taken to repair the structure before something unpleasant occurred and someone came to harm, or worse. “It has been raining heavily on and off in the afternoon over the past few days. “Each time it does, I become fearful that the more of the walkway might give way. “If this happens, me and my family will be unable to drive out of our home. We might be stuck in the event that an emergency occurs.” Meanwhile, City Hall has removed some of the grilles from a drain in Kolombong, which cut across the junction between Lorong Kacang Tanah 1 and Lorong Sri Kolombong. The spokesman said this was done after the agency’s personnel found that some of the metal bars in these structures were missing. “Those grilles which are beyond repair will be replaced, while we try to solder the bars in the remaining structures which cover the drain,” he said. “We have cordoned off part of the drain with security tape and had signs placed nearby to forewarn motorists to drive around the affected area.” LOKI of Kolombong said holes had formed in a few of the grilles placed on top of the drain. He said because of this, several motorists had already found the tyres of their vehicles getting stuck in the drain as they drove across “I work at an office based here. Some of our customers have remarked about the dangers posed by the damaged grilles,” he said. “They claimed that they risked being hit from behind as they slowed down to go over the drain.” Loki said this problem was especially trying for drivers as the drain was located at the base of a slight slope. “It is difficult to get enough pick-up to climb the incline, as one has to slow down to go over the drop in the road.” Loki bemoaned the damage caused to the undercarriage of those vehicles as they went over the grills. “Me and my colleagues have to go, on and off, to the workshop and have spent a substantial sum to have our cars repaired.” He said one of his peers had reported the irregularities related to the grilles to the local authorities but, so far, no action had been taken. “A considerate proprietor at the commercial centre here placed some wood into the drain and old tyres around the exposed section of the drain. “He hoped in this way to ensure that drivers swerved around the holes in the damaged grilles.”
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