Well, isn't this very assuring...

I've never been fond of the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) anyway, and most importantly, I've never liked the person who approved this multi-billion Ringgit boondoggle, the Public Works Minister, Samy "jangan hisap dada" Vellu. How many will have to die before this matter is finally to be taken seriously? Please Pak Lah, if you have any guts--and conscience--left in you, fire this old corrupted dinosaur from his cabinet post--along with Rafidah Aziz, of course. Enough of this whole AP brouhaha already. Anyway, here's an article in the MalaysiaKini website about the impending collapse of the Kepong bridge section of the MRR2.

Experts: MRR2 might collapse in two years
Beh Lih Yi
Oct 15, 05 3:48pm

British experts have warned that the defective flyover in Kepong might collapse within two years should remedial works not be carried out immediately.

At a briefing yesterday, Halcrow Group Limited told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that a phenomenon called ‘delayed ettringite formation’ is causing the cement to expand after absorbing water and causing the concrete to crack.

Contacted after the briefing, PAC chief Shahrir Samad said that the flyover, which forms part of the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2), will have to be closed in two years unless repair works are undertaken immediately.

However, Sharir said that presently, the flyover is safe for motorist, at least for the time being.

Advice ignored

Also present at the briefing was PAC deputy chief Dr Tan Seng Giaw. He explained that Halcrow was engaged as consultants last year to study cracks that appeared on the MRR2.

According to Tan, Halcrow had recommended the Public Works Department (PWD) to waterproof the support beams and crossbars on the flyover in March.

“The cracks are beginning to appear again now. Something is quite wrong with the PWD, they appointed eight consultants to study the MRR2 problem, but have they done anything?”said Tan.

“The road has to be closed in two years time if no repair works are done, in three or four year times, nobody can predict what will happen, it may collapse,” he noted.

Kepong folks shocked

Tan, who is also Kepong MP, said that many of his constituents expressed shock and dismay over Halcrow’s prediction.

Tan said that he has been besieged with concerns from his worried constituents who are accusing the PWD of dragging their feet and neglecting their duties.

The flyover had to be closed from for four months from August last year after cracks appeared on 31 out of the 33 support beams.

At present, only four of the six lanes on the flyover are open to traffic.

He added that the PAC will demand for an explanation from PWD officials next Friday.

The stretch is part of the RM238 million Package 11 of the MRR2 project, which was awarded to BumiHiway (M) Sdn Bhd, Sukmin Sdn Bhd and Konsortium Kontraktor Melayu.