New Thean Teik Highway – Lebuh Bukit Jambul link ahead of schedule
Work on Jalan Bukit Kukus, the alternative road linking Lebuhraya Thean Teik in Bandar Baru Air Itam to Lebuh Bukit Jambul in Penang is progressing slightly ahead of schedule.
The project, which began on Jan 15 last year, is slated to be completed on Jan 14, 2019.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) Infrastructure and Traffic Committee alternate chairman Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik said the overall progress of the project was currently at 36% while the progress of the three segments under the MBPP was slightly ahead of schedule.
“Meanwhile, private developers PLB Land Sdn Bhd and Geo Valley Sdn Bhd are working on two stretches of the 5km road.
“Segments 1 and 2 which involved upgrading works to the existing road have been completed while Segment 3 is 45% completed.
“On top of that, MBPP is also constructing a 600m elevated road linking Jalan Bukit Kukus to Jalan Tun Sardon,” he said during a site visit to the project in Bayan Lepas yesterday.
Muhammad Bakhtiar said the council was upgrading a 1.1km stretch along Lebuhraya Thean Teik and a 1.5km stretch along Lebuh Bukit Jambul as part of the project.
“We are also building an elevated U-turn along Lebuh Bukit Jambul for those who want to make a turn and go back to Relau.
“The right turn from Tingkat Bukit Jambul to Lebuh Bukit Jambul will be removed and a roundabout is being installed for safer and smoother traffic.
“People from Paya Terubong can directly access Lebuh Bukit Jambul via the roundabout,” he said.
Muhammad Bakhtiar said the three segments by the council cost RM275.6mil while the whole project would cost RM545mil.
MBPP Engineering Department deputy director A. Rajendran, who was also present, said they were currently building the columns with the highest being 50m along Segment 3.
“One of the reasons we are building such high columns is to minimise hill cutting.
“We are trying to minimise the disturbance and we will also plant trees and shrubs after the project is completed.
“We are currently working on creating the road platform, and strengthening and stabilising the slopes,” he said.
Rajendran added that the main issue faced by the project was the unpredictable weather.
“The rainy season has made it difficult as we cannot do any earth works when it rains.
“We are hoping everything goes as scheduled and barring any unforeseen circumstances, we will be able to complete the project on schedule,” he said.
The alternative road is intended to ease traffic congestion along Jalan Paya Terubong, which is an arterial road linking Bayan Baru, Balik Pulau and Air Itam.
Source: TheStar.com.my
Looks like a good project but is a protest from the residents from Ayer Itam, Bayan Baru, Balik Pulau or Paya Terubong ? What about the notorious NGOs also ?
every project also got ppl protest one…. when protest if futile, they will quiet down as ppl never tends to see long sighted but short ones….
every project also got ppl protest one…. when protest is futile, they will quiet down as ppl never tends to see long sighted but short ones….
Those residents from Ayer Item and Balik Pulau who work in Bayan Lepas factory will benefit most as this will cut down their traveling time.Balik Pulau house prices will increase after completion of this highway.
I will protest GAO GAO will the highway is build in front / nearby my house !!!
That is the selfish mentality all people have. U don’t believe ? Go see another thread about Tg Bungah ppl protest about the outer-ring-road.
@Lam
But it’s the worse in Penang island ! Maybe, many in Penang just thought that they are “more educated” and Penang always leads ! At the end of the day, the trade-off is less developments and keep lagging behind lo !
Is this project being approved by federal?
Today’s flood has practically jammed up the whole of Penang ! Without alternative routes, all of us simply standstill and wait for hours ! Who say more roads won’t solve the congestion ??? Take a look at Sichuan’s newly constructed city place ! Silly NGOs, katak dalam tempurung ?
@Sam Wt
Clearing the hills will cause more floods and landslide. So more hill clearing -> more roads -> more floods -> more jams. It becomes a vicious cycle, like a dog chasing it’s tail.
I agree with @turtlehead.
Recent downpour is an outlier. Excluding the hills from development meaning that we have to pay more for the properties, which already very expensive, since flat land on island is so limited
@PityMe
(1) Properties on the island are not that expensive afterall. For 400k, you already can get a decent sized condo in Sg. Ara with full facilities. If you cannot even afford that, you should consider mainland.
(2) Do you seriously think that building on hills will moderate property price?
(3) You might end up spending more on repairing your flood water soaked car, just look what happened to Farlim folks.