The Bukit Kukus paired road project has reached 95.91% for a section of the highway which is expected to be fully completed by the end of October this year.

Penang Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the current full movement control order (FMCO) from June 1 to 28 has further delayed the project as construction work has to be halted temporarily.

“On top of that, the contractor cannot obtain the supply of building materials during this FMCO.

“If the FMCO is extended, it will definitely affect the project’s progress and completion,” Zairil told Buletin Mutiara via a WhatsApp reply yesterday.

For the record, the project was originally scheduled for completion in July 2020 but due to the Covid-19 pandemic and several other technical issues involved in additional work, the development of the project was extended to May 2021.

In the meantime, Zairil expressed hopes that the construction work of the project could resume soon so that it could be opened to the public at the end of October.

“When completed, it will be able to solve the problem of traffic congestion up to 30 percent,” explained Zairil, who together with fellow state executive councillor Yeoh Soon Hin, visited the site on April 28.

The 5.5km Bukit Kukus paired road project, costing RM545.6 million, consists of three sections connecting Paya Terubong and Relau.

The state government, through Penang Island City Council (MBPP), is responsible for the construction of 3.3km of the stretch that costs RM275.6 million.

Meanwhile, two developers, namely PLB Land Sdn Bhd and Geo Valley Sdn Bhd, are responsible for the remaining 1.4km (RM150mil) and 0.8km (RM120mil) stretches respectively.

It was reported that the two private companies might complete theirs in 2024.

Source: Buletin Mutiara