The long wait for the completion of a 1.3km-long road widening project between Federal Route One in Simpang Ampat and the traffic lights near the North-South Expressway’s (NSE) toll plaza at Batu Kawan, Penang, will be over soon.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Public Works Department (PWD) was confident of completing the RM16mil Federal Government project by June.

He said the project, which began in June 2008, was originally scheduled for completion by December 2010.

He said although the PWD later extended the completion date to September last year, it still could not meet the deadline.

“The PWD said the delay was not caused by the project contractor but by PLUS, which delayed in giving its consent for the contractor to build a 70m-long bridge over the NSE alignment there.

“PLUS only gave the green light last December and so, JKR is now confident of completing the project by June,” he said after checking on the bridge’s construction on Thursday.

Also present was Penang JKR deputy director Mohd Hassan Harun and Bukit Tambun assemblyman Law Choo Kiang.

Lim said many residents had complained of bottle necks, especially near the mini roundabout outside the NSE’s Bukit Tambun toll plaza due to the project’s delay.

He said the project involved widening the two-lane stretch to four lanes.

Source: The Star