THE long-awaited pedestrian link bridge connecting the Abdullah Hukum LRT-KTMB station with The Gardens Mall is expected to be opened by this month.

Once opened, the link bridge would allow easier access from the station to nearby shopping centres including Mid Valley Megamall.

IGB Bhd corporate communications senior manager Kim Teoh when contacted, said the company is in the final process of getting the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities.

“The approvals and inspections of the bridge are expected to be completed by this month.

“The operating hours of the link bridge will be announced at that time as well.”

Approvals and inspections are to be carried out by Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Fire and Rescue Department to ensure that the structure complies with safety standards.

KL Eco City Sdn Bhd sales and marketing executive Amy Ang said the bridge will be opened once IGB had obtained the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC).

At the moment, the public have to take a long detour along the KL Eco City road or brave the traffic and cross the PJ-Bangsar bypass as a shortcut.

A commuter who only wanted to be known as Satkunarajah said he had been waiting for the 70m-bridge to be opened since its completion nine months ago.

“Until the bridge is opened, commuters would have to walk along the road which endangers their safety.

“It is also inconvenient especially for the elderly and the disabled, ” he said.

Lie Pang and Jackson Yang who work near Mid Valley Megamall concurred, adding that without a covered walkway, commuters were at the mercy of the weather.

“We get soaked whenever it rains, ” they said.

A check by StarMetro found that commuters currently use an old bridge located several hundred metres away from the station to cross the road to get to The Gardens Mall.