Jambatan Kota, Bellfield Bridge, Klang
Aku teringat masa kecik-kecik dulu, Klang memang tempat lepak aku berbanding Banting...maklum ler Klang bandar Banting pekan jer..sure aku pergi ke bandar..macam-macam ada... Klang terbahagi dua, Klang Utara dan Selatan..yang menyambungkannya jembatan besi macam jambatan Bailey..dikenali sebagai Jambatan Kota, jambatan yang pertama merentangi Sungai Klang yang telah disiapkan pada September 1908 oleh jurutera George Dearie Russell dan James Graig daripada The Federated Engineering Company, kroni Mat Salleh ler. Panjang jambatan ini sejauh 560 kaki dengan kos pembinaan sebanyak $143.633.Asalnya jambatan ini hanya setingkat sahaja, sama seperti jambatan-jambatan lain. Bila ditambah tingkat atasnya, tidak pula aku tahu..korang kena tanya JKR ler.. Jambatan 2 tingkat 2 lorong ini unik sikit...tingkat atas seperti biasa ler untuk kenderaan manakala bahagian bawahnya untuk pejalan kaki,beca, basikal atau seumpamanya...ku tak pasti bila jambatan ini dibina..tapi sejak aku lahir, memang dah terpacak kat Klang..lokasinya dekat MPK berhampiran Kota Raja Mahdi..Tapi itu pun baru lagi...sebelum jambatan ini dibina aku pernah dengar dan tengok gambar ada jambatan gantung kat situ masa tahun 50an dulu. Tak salah aku gambarnya ada kat Muzium Selangor kat Shah Alam kot...Kenapa kena roboh? Wallahualam..korang tanyalah kat JKR..Way,way back down the history lane, masa moyang aku tengah kiut-miut, mana ada jembatan, kalau larat berenang ler..tapi mat salleh ada buat khimat feri di Pengkalan Batu kat Jalan Tepi Sungai,seberang Klang Selatan dan tepi Pasar Jawa kat sebelah Klang Utara.. Sekarang ini, Jambatan Kota hanyalah ikon pelancongan Selangor sahaja kerana.hanya tingkat bawahnya sahaja yang masih digunakan..Klang kini dah ada jambatan konkrit yang baru dan dengar cerita akan dibina jambatan ketiga .Bila? Wallahualam......Jauh benar Klang berubah....
Klang tahun 1870
Jurutera George Dearie Russell
The Federated Engineering Company won the contract to build the first road bridge across the river Klang, (see right) which was completed in 1908. George with James Craig was in charge of the construction. It had four spans with a total length of 560 feet and cost $143.633 when it was completed in September. "The spot where the opening ceremony was to take place was also lavishly decorated and surmounted by a red awning and the bright garments of the native spectators added to the picturesqueness of the scene. His Excellency the High Commissioner and party, which included Mr. Claud Severn, Private Secretary, Capt. Gay, A.D.C., Col. Nelson, Commanding R.G.A. Major Ford, Army Service Corps and Mr. T.H. Reid of the Straits Times, travelled up by the Seamew. They were met at Port Swettenham by the Resident-General, Sir William Taylor, K.C.M.G., Mr. H.C. Belfield, British Resident, Selangor, Mr. C.E. Spooner, C.M.G., and Mrs. Spooner, who had arrived there by special train. His Excellency was met at Klang station by Mr. J. Scott Mason, D.O., Klang, and Mr. G.D. Russell, and the party proceeded by motor to the bridge. Here a guard of Honour of 50 police was stationed under Mr. W.W. Douglas and a large crowd had assembled, including a detachment of 200 Klang schoolboys. A feature was the large number of Malay ladies present decked out in brilliant attire. His Excellency was met at the bridge by His Highness the Sultan of Selangor, C.M.G. who had previously arrived by motor, and others present were Mr. M.S.H. McArthur, Acting Federal Secretary, Mr. J. Trump, Director of Public Works, F.M.S., Mr. E.R. Stokoe, State Engineer, Selangor, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Mason, Mr. R.W. Harrison, Mr. H.M. Darby, Dr and Mrs. Gerrard, Mr. and Mrs. L.U. Stafford, Mr. and Mrs. W. Towgood, Mr. J. Gibson, Mr. A. Irving, Mr. E.F. Townley, Mr. C.T. Hamerton and Miss Hamerton, Mr. W.R.G. Hickey, Mr. F.O. Sander, Mr. Sydney Smith, Capt. Douglas of the Waterwitch and many others". The bridge was probably demolished during the war by the retreating British.
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