Ingenieur Vol. 75 ingenieur July 2018-FA | Page 82

INGENIEUR
Jalan Birch - Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin
Viaduct, Kuala Lumpur 1963
By Cheo Hong Keyong
The
viaduct
between Jalan
Birch (Jalan
M a h a r a j a l e l a)
and Jalan Sultan
Hishamuddin was
officially opened
on March 15,
1963 by the then
Prime Minister,
Tu n k u A b d u l
Rahman. The
viaduct, built at
a cost of RM3.5
million, connects
Jalan Birch near
the Shell Building
and the Police Co-
operative Building
to Jalan Sultan
Hishamuddin.
It crosses over
the Klang River
overlooking the
M ain R ail w ay
Station
and
the
Railway
Admini s t r at io n
Building.
The viaduct was constructed to alleviate traffic
congestion especially around the Jalan Sultan
Sulaiman Bridge. With its completion, traffic from
Klang and Port Swettenham could enter the Kuala
Lumpur city centre with ease. The viaduct also
symbolised a new era of highway construction
after Malaysia gained independence in 1957.
Cars carrying VIPs including the then Prime
Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman and well wishers at
the official opening of the Jalan Birch-Jalan Sultan
Hishamuddin viaduct on March 15, 1963.
Photo courtesy of Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia
Photo of the
present road
leading to the
viaduct from
Jalan Kinabalu
direction.
KL Map 1962.
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VOL
VOL 75
55 JULY-SEPTEMBER
JUNE 2013 2018