GEORGE TOWN: What was once a leafy escape has become a blazing construction zone – no thanks to excessive culling of trees.
In Bandar Baru Air Itam, residents are sweating under the scorching sun after the felling of trees to make way for a long- delayed mega bypass project.
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Residents also have to endure noise, air pollution and traffic congestions from the ongoing construction of the Air Itam – Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass.
Hawker Fauziah Mohd Marina, 53, acknowledged the need for development but voiced concern over the vanishing green lungs.
“Some of the trees that shaded us are now gone. The authorities say most of them will be preserved, but we clearly feel the visible reduction in greenery,” said Fauziah, who has lived in a nearby high-rise with her husband and five children for 15 years.
Trader S. Ganapathi, 71, who walks daily for exercise, said it feels harsh and noisy nowadays.
“I used to enjoy my morning walks under the big trees, but now it’s machinery and dust.
“The noise starts early and the afternoons are unbearably hot without the trees,” he said, adding that the state government should speed up construction and replant trees wherever possible.
Meanwhile, waitress Qiao Wen, 19, supports the project.
“It’s a much-needed upgrade. While frustrations are normal, the long-term benefits will be worth it,” she said, adding that quicker completion would help minimise the disruption.
The RM850mil project, which connects Air Itam to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, had its groundbreaking ceremony in 2019 but construction only began in 2021.
It was delayed for about a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and land acquisition issues during the early stages of construction.
The 6km toll-free road will have a 1.8km ground-level stretch while other stretches will be elevated through viaduct structures (65%), tunnels (20%) and grade sections (15%).
It will consist of three interchanges: Lebuhraya Thean Teik, the Jalan Bukit Gambir-Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah junction, and the Tun Dr Lim Chong Ee, which will involve a “left-in, left-out” access and an elevated U-turn.
Upon completion next year, it is expected to reduce the 40-minute drive between Bandar Baru Air Itam and the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway to under 10 minutes.
This is expected to benefit Penangites in the long term, especially the population of 300,000 in Air Itam, Bandar Baru Air Itam and Paya Terubong.
The project is among four packages under the Penang Undersea tunnel (or a third link) and three major road projects awarded to Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd in September 2013.
