TWO underpasses and two flyovers will soon be constructed along Jalan Masjid Negeri in Penang under a RM60mil project to relieve traffic congestions on the island’s main artery.

The underpasses will enable road users to turn right into Jalan Delima and Jalan Besi under phase two of the Traffic Improvement Plan of Jalan Masjid Negeri.

Rapt attention: Participants listening to the briefing given by Hew during the ‘Decongesting Jalan Masjid Negeri’ forum in George Town

A one-lane flyover will also be constructed over the existing autopont flyover along Jalan Masjid Negeri linking Lebuhraya Batu Lanchang to Jalan Masjid Negeri for traffic heading towards the State Mosque.

Another flyover will connect Jalan Scotland to Jalan Batu Gantung.

This was revealed by PINTAR Jurutera Perunding which has been appointed as the consulting firm for the phase one and phase two projects by the Penang Municipal Council.

Its consulting engineer Hew Yoon Leong provided the details during a local government forum ‘De-Congesting Jalan Masjid Negeri’ at the Caring Society Complex yesterday.

Also present at the briefing were state Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, Penang Municipal Council president Patahiyah Ismail and Seberang Prai Municipal Council president Maimunah Mohd Sharif and representatives from non-governmental organisations.

Hew said the first phase of the project would entail the upgrading of Lorong Batu Lanchang and Lebuhraya Thean Teik intersection by providing a free-flow left-turn for traffic from Lorong Batu Lanchang to Lebuhraya Thean Teik.

He said the single lane next to the State Mosque interchange would be upgraded into two lanes.

“We are going to shift the concrete perimeter fence of the State Mosque to construct the additional lane to enable motorists using Jalan Masjid Negeri to turn left into Jalan Air Itam,” he said.

Hew said the other projects in phase one are the upgrading of the Jalan Tengku Kudin roundabout to provide free-flow ‘U’ turn for traffic heading back to the State Mosque direction.

Over at Jalan Bagan Jermal an additional lane would be constructed on both sides of the road to cater for heavy traffic flow especially during school dismissal time.

He said a bicycle lane would be constructed along Gottlieb Road from the Jalan Kebun Bunga intersection to the Jalan Burma intersection.

“Phase one of the project will take about 16 months. Phase two will begin after that,” he said.

Hew said tender for the first phase costing RM25mil was called several months ago.

“The successful bidder will be announced soon,” he said.

Source: The Star