Long, long road to completion

THE Penang Public Works Department (PWD) appears to be stuck in a dreadful hole — all because of repeated delays in the completion of the RM57mil road upgrading project in Balik Pulau.

This might be seen as a blot on its good record of overseeing the completion of several mega projects quickly, including the flyovers in Bayan Baru and Prai.

They also include the construction of the Jelutong Expressway as well as the upgrading of the road from Tanjung Tokong to Mar Vista in Tanjung Bungah and the bridge over Prai River.

Say what you like but the Balik Pulau project has earned the dubious distinction of being one of the ‘sickest’ road projects in the state.

Well, the project to straighten the road from Teluk Kumbar to Pekan Genting commenced in April 2005. It was supposed to be completed in two years.

Five years down the road, the project is still far from nearing completion.

The project is aimed at halving the travelling time of 30 minutes between Teluk Kumbar and Pekan Genting while the 4.5km distance is to be reduced to 3.3km by constructing six bridges to cut off road bends that will make the passage safer and shorter.

Motorists travelling along the winding stretch dotted with durian trees have for some time now seen massive concrete structures spanning over tree tops.

Unfortunately, there is no end in sight. They are wondering when they are able to use the entire stretch, although certain sections have been opened in stages.

Despite the project being delayed for more than three years, there has been no public outcry, probably because only a small group uses the road to Balik Pulau.

Most motorists prefer to use the other routes — via the hilly Jalan Tun Sardon which is more popular or via Teluk Bahang.

Amid the torrent of claims and counterclaims over the need for the multi-million ringgit project, the burning question has been — shouldn’t the winding road be left untouched at all?

Now, the public has been told the project that was scheduled to be ready next month has been delayed yet again. It will only be ready in another 10 months.

Whether the contractor will meet the deadline or not remains to be seen since the company may well ask for another extension.

After all, a precedent has been set whereby the original contractor was given two extensions and yet failed to deliver.

The original contractor was said to have abandoned the project in March 2008 after it was 76% completed, apparently due to escalating costs of building materials and shortage of labour.

The new contractor was appointed in May last year.

But it seems to have failed to meet the 78-week deadline specified by the PWD.

For the past few months, it is learnt that not much work has being done at the site.

Some workers were spotted only doing drainage works and strengthening the slopes.

Suffice to say, the project has been hit by repeated delays and should become a textbook study by the PWD on how a project was badly handled.

Lessons should be learnt so that the mistakes are not repeated.

In fact, some quarters felt that a contractor with vast experience should have been awarded for the project since it would involve the construction of six bridges over hilly terrain.

Taxpayers, on the other hand, would also like to know how much more money would have to be spent on it.

It has been reported that a contractor from Sarawak was appointed to finish the remaining 24% of the project.

The cost of the revived package is RM42.05mil.

In the meantime, the PWD should shed some light on the proposal to upgrade Jalan Paya Terubong from single carriageway to double carriageway.

There is also the plan to construct a dual carriageway linking Lebuhraya Thean Teik in Bandar Baru Air tam via Jalan Bukit Kukus to Jalan Bukit Jambul.

These two projects are vital to resolve the daily traffic snarls along Jalan Paya Terubong as more motorists are using the road, especially those working in Bayan Baru.

If these projects are still being considered, let’s hope it does not become a slippery slope for the PWD again.