Roads being widened for bypass
Several roads in Kampung Pisang, Air Itam are undergoing road widening works to complement the upcoming 4.6km bypass connecting the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway with Bandar Baru Air Itam.
The bypass, scheduled for completion in 2019, is part of a comprehensive package of four traffic management projects totalling RM6.3bil, which includes the 6.5km undersea tunnel connecting Gurney Drive on the island to Butterworth’s Bagan Ajam. The tunnel’s completion is scheduled by 2025.
The other two projects are the 12km Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang paired road (scheduled to be ready by 2018), followed by the 4.2km bypass connecting Gurney Drive to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, which is due to be finished in 2022.
Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai said the bypass would be an elevated highway from Kampung Pisang (next to Sunshine Farlim) cutting across Jalan Thean Teik and Lebuhraya Thean Teik to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.
“The bypass project is scheduled to start in June this year,” Wong told The Star in Komtar yesterday.
Wong said that the road widening work at several roads in Kampung Pisang are done in stages.
“Some the roads affected in the road widening process are Jalan Kampung Pisang, Jalan Zoo and Jalan Pisang Embun.
“The widening of these roads will help support the traffic flow when the bypass is completed,” he added.
Wong said that Zoo Road is divided into three unconnected parts – Zoo Road off Jalan Air Itam, Zoo Road in Kampung Pisang and Zoo Road in Bandar Baru Air Itam.
“Zoo Road off Jalan Air Itam is disconnected from the Zoo Road in Kampung Pisang by Sungai Air Itam and some houses.
“We plan to build a bridge between Zoo Road off Jalan Air Itam and the Zoo Road in Kampung Pisang, so that those staying in Jalan Air Itam, Reservoir Garden and the nearby areas can be easily connected to Kampung Pisang and they can also use the bypass to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, and vice-versa.
“Road users no longer need to use the longer route to reach the bypass if the two parts of the Zoo Road are connected,” he said.
Wong also said that he would be discussing the plan with residents in Zoo Road after the Chinese New Year celebration.
Source: TheStar.com.my
