TRAFFIC congestion around Penang Hospital has become a growing concern, with illegally parked vehicles along Jalan Residensi worsening the bottleneck.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said vehicles parked on both sides of the road have reduced the four-lane stretch to just two, aggravating peak-hour traffic from Jalan Macalister to Jalan Perak in George Town.
“The issue along Jalan Residensi is serious as motorists park on both sides of the road.
“There are plans to widen Jalan Residensi but we need to improve traffic flow in the meantime, especially after 5pm,” he said after the full board meeting.
Rajendran said MBPP would not clamp or tow vehicles along Jalan Residensi (between Jalan Vermont and Jalan Sepoy Lines), if possible, until 5pm.
“We will use our discretion not to enforce until 5pm, unless there are cars that have double parked.
“Any cars parked outside that stretch can be towed away at any point, including those parked on the pavement,” he warned.
Cars parked along the stretch after 5pm will be towed to Jalan Sepoy Lines until 7pm before they are taken to the depot near Komtar.
Rajendran said these measures were needed as thousands had been affected by the traffic jam.
“Even one illegally parked car can cause serious congestion.”
He pointed out that there are free shuttle buses under the Rapid Penang Central Area Transit (CAT) system to and from the hospital.
Three other locations identified as no-waiting and no-parking zones are in the process of being studied.
“The locations are Jalan Hutton (between Jalan Transfer and Jalan Penang), Air Itam Market area (involving Jalan Paya Terubong) and Jalan Burma (between Lorong Madras and Jalan Zainul Abidin).”
Those who wait or park at the no-waiting zones will get summonsed or have their vehicles clamped and towed under Section 48 of the Road Transport Act 1987 for traffic obstruction and Section 79 (2) of the same Act for ignoring traffic signals and instructions.
It was earlier reported that ongoing upgrading works at Penang Hospital was taking a toll on motorists, who struggled to find parking.
With sections of both compounds fenced off for construction and most of the remaining bays said to be taken up by staff vehicles, patients and visitors have been forced to double-park or park along main roads.
The ongoing RM758mil Penang Hospital expansion involves the construction of a 14-storey specialist and wards block, Women and Children’s Block and Stem Cell Centre.
Once completed in 2029, the hospital will have additional 976 beds and 1,000 parking bays.
