KL's bridge of sighs

There's a bridge in downtown KL, next to an MRT station, nearby a residential and amenity area, that's been under construction for around 5 years. Yes, FIVE YEARS.

One day, this bridge might connect Jalan Hang Jebat with Jalan Galloway.

If it was a highway bridge this speed of construction might be a scandal.  But, it's a pedestrian bridge, and like other pedestrian infrastructure in Malaysia, it is low down the priority list.  Even though, EVEN THOUGH, it's in a super-strategic location.

It's not just the MRT that it will connect.  Along Jalan Hang Jebat there are schools, a stadium (Chin Woo), and the second tallest building in the world.  Could be a lot of people around there, eh?

This is a bridge that crosses LRT tracks.   Not over a narrow road, like in Brickfields.  This bridge will actually be highly functional and serve an important purpose, creating pedestrian connectivity and encouraging walking in the city. 

It might sound like a small thing, one pedestrian bridge, but given its location it has the potential to make a big difference.  It can also be seen as a microcosm of what can happen to pedestrian infrastructure in Malaysia.  Will it become the next Ecocity/Midvalley bridge, that took around 20 years to be finished?

Transport Access Malaysia has been monitoring 'progress' on the bridge for a few years.  In August 2024, a follower wrote to DBKL to ask for an update.  DBKL promised that the bridge would be finished by the end of 2024.

This is the scene in January 2025:

 Little or no progress since months.

 Every month, another sigh, because it's still not open.

Why is the contractor not finishing this?  Why is it not fast-tracked?  After all, it's just a bridge crossing an LRT line - why does it need to take so long?  The construction was apparently awarded to contractor AZRB by PNB Merdeka Ventures. These are high profile companies that surely know how to finish a pedestrian bridge?  What does DBKL say about this? At least provide an update on progress and an expected opening timeline.  Is there any accountability?

It should never get to the point of asking the questions above.  The better questions to focus on are the ones during the planning stages.   KL planners, authorities, developers and the wider stakeholder community might find asking questions such as these helpful:

• What is directly around our public transport nodes?
• What are the blockers to pedestrian flow?
• What does a good timeline look like for implementing pedestrian improvements?
• Can we enhance it further with covered walkways, lighting, planting, signage, and perhaps benches or other amenities to make the city more livable?

Good answers are available to all these questions and can be the basis for big improvements in the city.  Can DBKL plan together with the relevant stakeholders to get this done (and enforce it if needed)?