Seven roads costing RM2bil for Penang

GEORGE TOWN: Seven road projects totalling RM1.96bil have been approved for Penang under the First Rolling Plan (2016-2017) of the 11th Malaysian Plan.

On the island, they include road upgrades from Teluk Kumbar to Penang International Airport (RM390mil), from Batu Maung to Penang Bridge (RM373.2mil), from Batu Maung to the Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah roundabout (RM160mil) on the island and a new flyover across the Batu Maung roundabout (RM165.95mil).

On the mainland, they are a four-lane road from Tuanku Abdul Rahman Bridge to Merdeka Bridge (RM340.4mil), a road upgrade from Permatang Keling to Simpang Ampat (RM344mil), a flyover in Bukit Mertajam to connect Jalan Nangka and Jalan Perda Timur (RM184.8mil).

Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof tabulated the projects in a written reply to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s question in Dewan Rakyat.

Lim, in a statement yesterday, urged the ministry to approve several other road projects for Penang.

He listed the need for flyovers from Jalan Tun Dr Awang to Relau, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah at the Jalan Tengah junction, Jalan Air Itam, Jalan Permatang Pauh to Juru toll plaza on the mainland and an underpass from Jalan Mashuri to Kampung Jawa.

“We also need a shortcut from Jalan Permatang Tengah to Seberang Jaya and the roads from Jalan Juru to Jalan Tok Kanggar and Jalan Kulim in Bukit Mertajam also need to be widened.”