GETTING around George Town on foot is set to become easier.
Some 820m of pedestrian walkways in the city’s Unesco World Heritage Site are being upgraded under two projects costing a combined RM819,430.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the projects were aimed at improving the safety and comfort of pedestrians while transforming the heritage area into a more walkable and accessible part of the city.
The first project, costing RM386,430, covers a 365m stretch along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling and Lebuh Farquhar.
Rajendran said the project, funded by MBPP, started on April 20 and was scheduled to be completed on Oct 19.
The second project, costing RM433,000, covers a 455m stretch along Lebuh Farquhar and Lebuh Light, from the Gat Lebuh Leith junction to the Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah junction.
He said the second project, funded by Economy Ministry, started last July 20 and was scheduled for completion on Nov 19.
“Both projects involve constructing pedestrian walkways with ‘Euro Tiles’ (heavy-duty compressed concrete paving slabs) as the surface finish, with the walkways measuring between 1.5m and 2m wide.”
Rajendran said the walkways would follow MS 1184, Malaysia’s universal design and accessibility standard, and the works would also include installing new kerbs and repairing existing drains.
He said the existing pedestrian walkways were old, damaged and not user-friendly, and the upgrades would provide safer facilities for the public based on universal design principles.
“The pedestrian walkway upgrading project will ensure the safety and comfort of pedestrians,” he said.
The mayor added that Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling and Lebuh Farquhar were located within the Core Zone of the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site.
It is surrounded by Category 1 heritage buildings, including the Goddess of Mercy Temple, St George’s Anglican Church, Penang State Museum and Penang High Court, as well as Category 2 heritage buildings.
“The area also has various cultures and heritage traditions that are unique to the Unesco World Heritage Site,” Rajendran said, emphasising the need to make an important first impression on tourists visiting George Town.
“MBPP also aims to transform the Unesco World Heritage Site into a ‘walkable’ area that is easily accessible by pedestrians.
“This effort is also in line with the state government’s vision of making George Town a low-carbon and green area,” he said.
Separately, MBPP has embarked on a RM24.7mil climate-adaptation project to reduce urban heat and improve walkability.
It includes covering a 1.76km loop around Lebuh Pantai, including parts of Gat Lebuh Gereja and Lebuh Victoria.
The project includes creating wider walkways, pocket parks and greener infrastructure and planting more trees.
Works started in September last year and are scheduled to be completed by end of this year.
The facelift will include pavements with more permeable surfaces – material that allows stormwater to flow through pavements to reduce flash floods risks and cool the ground through evaporation.
More than 900 trees will be planted to provide shade, improve air quality and cool the surroundings, while roadside parking within the loop will be reduced from 293 bays to about 150.
