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Malaysian Highway Authority deputy director-general Datuk Ghazali Md Nor said
the collapsed portions of the interchange measuring almost 20m would be cleared
immediately by the developer and Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS) Bhd.
<p>"A thorough assessment will also be done to ascertain the stability of
the remaining structures over the NKVE," said Ghazali, who came to the
site.</p>
<p>He said one of the panels on the gantry failed, causing all eight panels, which
were being hoisted to the interchange beams, to collapse.</p>
<p>Each panel is approximately 2.5m long. The interchange is 7.5km long and is
being built at a cost of RM150mil.</p>
<p>"We will study why it failed. A bridge engineer will be called in to find
out what actually happened.</p>
<p>"We also want to make sure the rest of the interchange is safe before
we re-open this stretch of the NKVE," he added.</p>
<p>In Klang, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said the catastrophe
could have been caused by "technical carelessness". </p>
<p>"A stress test was being done when the workers were joining portions of
the bridge limbs together. </p>
<p>"What might have happened was that they could have miscalculated one of
the steel bars that was supposed to be slotted into the bridge limb. That could
have caused the collapse," he told reporters after visiting the injured
people at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital. </p>
<p>Dr Khir said the bridge was supposed to have been completely linked up yesterday.</p>
<p>He said investigation on the disaster would be conducted immediately and a
detailed report would be completed within three days.</p>
<p>"The Public Works Department will take over the project after investigations
are completed," he said, adding that he was sad that such a disaster could
have happened.</p>
<p>He said the project was due for completion this December.
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