Gelang patah: The Sungai Pulai Bridge has been confirmed to be structurally sound, even though 10 locations along the route have experienced soil subsidence. Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan stated that the affected road sections will be repaired immediately by the developer.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Ahmad Maslan made these remarks following a site visit with the district officer, state Public Works Department (JKR), and the developer, Seaport Worldwide, which verified that the bridge structure is safe for use. Ahmad highlighted that the approximately 7.5-kilometre route, including the three-kilometre bridge, remains under the developer's responsibility and has not yet been handed over to JKR. Therefore, the developer has been instructed to expedite repair works using a fast-track approach, including 24-hour operations.
Dr Ahmad Maslan clarified that while the bridge itself is not affected, several road locations have experienced soil subsidence. As the route is still under the developer's responsibility, he has directed that repairs be completed this year, not next. The repair works must be carried out on a fast-track basis, including round-the-clock operations, with only partial lane closures to ensure public safety and continued accessibility.
He identified peat soil conditions as the cause of the subsidence and stated that suitable repair methods will be implemented. A traffic management plan will be in place to ensure continued accessibility without full closure of the route. He advised the public to remain cautious and adhere to safety instructions during the repair period.
Yesterday, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi urged JKR and the developer to apply more robust repair methods for the bridge's long-term safety and stability. Onn Hafiz mentioned that this decision follows a JKR technical audit that found significant subsidence exceeding 300 millimetres in less than six months after the bridge's opening on January 18, 2023. This was attributed to unstable soil structure and the use of the lightweight Expanded Polystyrene System (EPS) construction method, which was deemed unsuitable for the site conditions.