PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia): The Middle Ring Road 2 has been declared safe, three days after chunks of concrete from a pillar fell on several cars.
However, a lane at the spot where the incident occurred on Sunday will be closed for repairs for the best part of the next three weeks.
Acting Works Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said yesterday this was a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of road users.
Initial reports had revealed the cracks reappeared due to "additional work" carried out during repairs on some of the pillars supporting the flyover.
"Road users have nothing to worry about.
"I want to give an assurance that structurally, MRR2 has been certified safe and strong with the defects being minor," Mohamed Khaled said, adding that only three of the 18 carbon fibre reinforcement straps on the pillar were broken.
"We are investigating why these straps gave way while straps on other pillars remained intact."
He said the affected stretch was still under the defect liability period, which would end on Nov 10.
"The MRR2 project was initially undertaken by a company. However, when defects appeared, another company was appointed to carry out repairs."
Mohamed Khaled, who is also higher education minister, added that such defects "were normal for contract works and there is nothing to worry as the flyover is safe".
On reopening the files of previous allegations of corruption in the construction of MRR2, Mohamed Khaled said there was no stopping the Anti-Corruption Agency from doing its work.
The ACA is also planning to question the contractors involved in building the RM238.8 million highway (package 11), which has so far incurred an additional RM70 million in repairs.
The flyover and the road below were closed from 10.30am to 5pm, Sunday after cracks reappeared on the pillar.
Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed later ordered the closure of two of the six lanes on the left of the flyover for consultants to study the damage.
