Inching along: The morning rush has slowed to a crawl as all vehicles are funnelled through Jalan Teluk Kumbar, the only remaining road between Balik Pulau and Bayan Lepas. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
BALIK PULAU: Tens of thousands of residents have to endure hours-long traffic jams daily after two of the three roads between here and George Town got cut off by landslides.
With Jalan Tun Sardon fully shut off and the Titi Kerawang route only open to light vehicles, traffic has been forced to a single access point through Teluk Kumbar, creating a gridlock stretching for kilometres every morning and evening.
The landslides were caused by four consecutive days of heavy rainfall that started on Oct 20.
By Oct 24, a total of 23 landslides had occurred and workers toiled almost round-the-clock to clear out displaced soil, fallen trees and boulders blocking Jalan Tun Sardon.
This road links Balik Pulau with the densely populated Paya Terubong and Air Itam areas, traversing over the centre of Penang island’s hill range.
State infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said efforts to reopen the road were being carried out in stages.
“Huge boulders rolled down the slopes over the weekend. We had to smash them up using hydraulic breakers because they were too heavy to transport away,” he said.
“For now, our priority is to reopen the route to traffic as soon as possible. Strengthening and stabilising the slopes will take longer.”
He said Jalan Tun Sardon is expected to reopen by Oct 31, depending on weather conditions.
On the edge: a man standing beside a collapsed portion of the titi Kerawang road which has been affected by andslides. — Photo courtesy of Zairil Khir Johari’s social media account
The Titi Kerawang road is open only to motorcycles and small cars because a large portion of the lane nearest to the sea collapsed.
Heavy vehicles are barred due to unstable slopes and cracks.
A government census in 2020 tallied over 130,000 residents in Balik Pulau.
Housewife Maryam Ahmad, 45, who drives her 12-year-old daughter to school in Pulau Tikus, said her daily commute has turned into a nightmare.
“It’s total chaos in the morning. I leave home at 5.30am and it still takes almost three hours to get back.
“Imagine crawling through the jam just to reach the school before the bell rings. The government must reopen Jalan Tun Sardon by Oct 31 as promised, or it will bring more misery to us,” she said.
Senior technician Baharom Ismail, 45, who lives in Sungai Rusa, said his 30-minute drive to work in Perai has tripled.
“What used to be half an hour now takes 90 minutes. The crawl is from Teluk Kumbar all the way to near the airport.
“Many of my colleagues are caught every day,” he said.
Restaurant operator Tan Hock Lee, 52, who runs a small eatery in Bayan Lepas, said his business has suffered as he now spends more time on the road than serving customers.
“I used to open by 7am. Now, I reach at almost 9am. Customers think I’m closed,” he said.
“My suppliers are also delayed. Vegetables come late and ice for cold drinks runs out by noon.”
