MALAYSIA `S LANGKAWI SKY BRIDGE

 

MALAYSIA `S LANGKAWI SKY BRIDGE

Langkawi is an archipelago made up of 99 islands on Malaysia’s west coast. Surrounded by turquoise sea, the interior of the main island is a mixture of picturesque paddy fields and jungle-clad hills. If you’re intent on carting off duty-free alcohol, cigarettes and chocolate, then this is the place to be. Still, nature lovers will find the island just as agreeable as the shoreline is fringed by powder-fine sand and swaying coconut trees. The island is especially recognised for its excellent diving opportunities and this tropical gem hides a treasure trove of other exciting holiday opportunities. From the expansive Underwater World Langkawi along Pantai Cenang to the soaring Cable Car in Pantai Kok, Langkawi is an electrifying locale that keeps visitors coming back for more

Langkawi Sky Bridge is a 125-metre (410 ft) curved pedestrian cable-stayed bridge in Malaysia, completed in 2005.[3] The bridge deck is 660 metres (2,170 ft) above sea level at the peak of Gunung Mat Cincang on Pulau Langkawi, the main island of the Langkawi archipelago in Kedah.[4] The Langkawi Sky Bridge can be reached by first taking the Langkawi Cable Car to the top station, where an inclined lift called SkyGlide takes visitors from the top station to the bridge.[5]

The bridge was closed in July 2012 for maintenance and upgrading. The reopening was put off several times, but it partially reopened in February 2015.[6] The bridge is now fully accessible

Design and construction

A view of the walkway

Design and layout

The bridge is 125 meters long, and 1.8 meters wide (the middle section has a wider walkway), with two steel railings as well as steel wire mesh on either sides. It is designed as a curved walkway to maximise the viewing experience, providing shifting perspective as a visitor walks along the bridge. The walkway, formed of steel and concrete panels set on top of an inverted triangular truss, connects two hilltops at Gunung Mat Chinchang. The first 25m of the bridge is straight, following 3 curved 25m sections, then a final straight 25m section. At each end of the walkway, the bridge has a 3.6m-wide triangular viewing platform that serves as resting and viewing areas for visitors.[2]

The bridge is suspended by 8 cables from an 81.5m high single pylon, and hangs at about 100m above the ground. The pylon is anchored onto a concreted pad set at an elevation of 604.5m, and its tip reached 686m above sea level. It is inclined at angles of 78° and 2° in two directions, and supported by two cables.[2] The bridge is designed to carry a up to 250 people.[3]

Construction

The bridge was pre-fabricated, and sections were then lifted to the top of the mountain using Russian Kamov helicopters, and the entire bridge assembled in its current position by the pylon. Helicopters were used in the erection of the pylons and the main section of the deck, later decks sections however were assembled using more conventional working cable and winch system. The bridge roughly cost $1.2 million to construct.[2] The bridge was constructed in 12 months between August 2003 and August 2004. It was opened to the public in February 2005.[6]

A new platform being built in 2015 connecting SkyGlide with the bridge

2012 upgrade

In July 2012, the bridge was closed for maintenance, upgrading and structural strengthening. The whole structure would be of stainless steel, and when it is finished, it would have sections of glass walkway in the middle span so that visitors may look down the valley from where they stand, and an inclined elevator or lift called SkyGlide that brings visitors from the top station down to the bridge.[7]

The bridge reopened in February 2015,[6] although access was for a time still limited as the SkyGlide was not finished until December 2015.

SkyGlide

SkyGlide

An inclinator called SkyGlide and a new platform were built linking the top station and Sky Bridge, taking passengers down to the Sky Bridge. It opened in December 2015.[8] The SkyGlide cabin can accommodate 12 passengers or 1,050 kg load per trip, and the ride lasts about two minutes.[9] The ticket for the SkyGlide is sold separately at the top station.[5]

A cheaper alternative to the SkyGlide is for visitors to walk 10–20 minutes along a steep and less secure mountain track to the Sky Bridge.

Popular media

The last scene of the Indian movie Don: The Chase Begins Again was filmed here. The Tamil movie Billa starring Ajith Kumar was also filmed here.

Technical information

Overall length of bridge: 125m[10]

Area of the bridge: 500 sq. meters[10]

Pylon height: 82m[10]

Pylon foundation: 605m above sea level[10]

Top of pylon: 687m above sea level[10]

Maximum capacity: 250 people.[10]