LLM orders SUKE to open alternative routes and check all gantries

The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) has ordered developers of the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) to perform extra safety checks on all gantries and beams at the construction site where a crane collapsed killing 3.

Also read: 3 killed in SUKE construction crane collapse along Alam Damai

According to The Star, work has been halted at the site but rescuers are still allowed to continue working on recovery efforts and stabilising the structure.

LLM also required the developers to build a temporary access lane for residents at the nearby Puncak Banyan Condominium. SUKE will need to inform all expressway users via their communication channels.

Also read: SUKE incident: Works Minister questions if SOP was followed

Roads on Taman Leng Seng (Zone 2) and Jalan Alam Damai (Zone 3) have been closed for safety reasons. SUKE is also tasked to identify an alternative route for road users to take at Persiaran Alam Damai (Zone 1) in case a roadblock is ordered on that route as well.

The new arrangements were made after a meeting between SUKE and LLM on Tuesday. Also present at the meeting were representatives from the Works Ministry, Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH), and Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).

LLM stated that DOSH and CIDB are still investigating the cause of the incident and will be presenting a report of their findings to the government soon.

The SUKE construction started back in August 2019 and is currently 88.8 percent completed. SUKE had plans to complete the 24.4 km expressway by the end of 2021.

In the incident that happened on Monday, a gantry crane at the SUKE construction site in Alam Damai collapsed, crushing Perodua Bezza in the process. Two workers were killed after falling 36.6 m, while a third was crushed under the gantry beam.

Rescuers were able to recover the bodies of Chinese nationals Ding Kunfu and Jiang Jinboa. Work is still underway to extricate Mu Tong Zheng’s remains. Meanwhile, the Bezza driver was seriously injured in the incident.

This month alone, the SUKE construction has seen at least 3 major accidents. The first happened on 3 March where a trailer collided with a beam causing the temporary structure to fall on a factory van, 2 victims were killed in the incident while 3 others were injured.

Also read: Trailer driver in SUKE collapse tested positive for drugs; 2 victims dead

Another incident happened just last week when a Proton Persona crashed into a structure and caught fire, the driver of the Persona died at the scene.