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Papar: There is a need to refurbish the concrete bridge near Kg.Buang Sayang here as it has historical value given its beginnings as part of the North Borneo Railway heading to the township here in 1915.Making the call, Pantai Manis assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail said it was in need of a facelift as presently its physical condition is causing traffic congestion besides being an eyesore.

"I am pleased to acknowledge the concrete bridge that has dual purposes to cater to vehicles and trains is aged 100 years old.

"Hence, I feel that the government should consider my proposal which I did highlight during the recent sitting of the State Legislate Assembly," he said to Daily Express here on Tuesday.

Rahim, who is also Umno Papar Divisional Chief, said the bridge has contributed much not only to the locals here but has been accommodating motorists and road users from Sipitang, Beaufort, Membakut, Bongawan, Lawas and Brunei Darussalam to go to State Capital as well as those people from the State Capital having official dealings here.

He said he came across the historical significance of the bridge when he saw the information posted on the Facebook account of the North Borneo Historical Society.

"The posting showed the opening of the Papar bridge to be utilised by the North Borneo Railway 100 years ago. Meaning to say, the site and the structure was originally used as a railway as the mode of transportation for people to go to the district in those days.

"Hence, I feel that the present bridge needs to be refurbished due to its historical background and also to provide better comfort to the road users," he said.

However, Rahim said another reason to refurbish the present bridge is because it has caused a bottleneck along the route and traffic congestion especially during peak hours.

He said refurbishing the bridge would therefore resolve traffic flow and uplift the image of the bridge from the tourism aspect.

According to him, a second bridge is going to be built from Melugus passing through Pengalat that will connect Kuala and Bundusan here under an upgrading project of the Lok Kawi and Pengalat route.