BALIK PULAU: Vehicle weight and size restrictions imposed on Jalan Teluk Bahang here following recent landslides have made life miserable for many villagers, with some traders having to make repeated trips using two-wheelers, or use very long diversions.
For example, fish trader Azmer Saad now makes about 10 motorcycle trips daily to deliver fish to Batu Ferringhi from Pulau Betong here, when a single trip using a three-tonne lorry would have done the job previously.
“Most of my customers in Batu Ferringhi are hotels.
“To keep up with their orders, I have to make deliveries no matter what, even if it means making several trips on my motorcycle.
“When I can’t manage all the deliveries myself, I get help from fellow fish traders in Teluk Bahang to send the supplies,” he added.
He noted that demand had been slightly lower during the weeks when the road was closed following the landslides.
He urged the authorities to expedite repairs as many depend on the route for their livelihoods.
“Without this road, everything slows down, from seafood supplies to hotel kitchens.
“It’s not just about business; it’s about keeping the whole local economy moving,” he said.
Tens of thousands of residents have been enduring hours-long traffic jams after two of the three roads between here and George Town were cut off by landslides.
With Jalan Teluk Bahang (Titi Kerawang route) only open to light vehicles and Jalan Tun Sardon fully shut, traffic has been forced to a single access point through Teluk Kumbar, creating a gridlock stretching for kilometres every morning and evening since last Friday.
Jalan Tun Sardon meanwhile remains closed until further notice.
The road links Balik Pulau with the densely populated Paya Terubong and Air Itam areas, traversing over the centre of Penang island’s hill range. For Jalan Teluk Bahang, a portion of the lane nearest to the sea collapsed, thus limiting it to only small vehicles and two-wheelers until further notice.
Fruit seller Wong Kooi Phing, who runs a stall in Titi Kerawang near the landslide site, said the incident left him without income for several days as tourist traffic came to a standstill.
“Usually, tour buses full of visitors stop here to buy fruits. But since the road was closed to buses and lorries, I have had zero business,” he said.
He added that while there were smaller vehicles passing through, business has yet to recover to normal levels.
“Tourists are still hesitant to come up because they think the road is unsafe. I just hope the authorities can stabilise the slope soon so that traffic and tourism here can return to what it used to be,” he said.
Wong, from Teluk Bahang, said those staying there are left with no choice but to use the single access road to town via Teluk Kumbar, making daily travel extremely difficult.
Mechanic Chong Yong Fu, 60, said the state government must take long-term measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
“Authorities should strengthen the hillside structure and improve the drainage system to stop water seeping into the slopes,” he said.
