The state government should revive a proposal originally mooted by the former state administrative to construct a road-cum-bridge connecting the Penang Science Park in Batu Kawan and Juru Heights in Juru.

Barisan Nasional’s Bukit Tambun constituency co-ordinator Lai Chew Hock said the estimated 3km-long link was supposed to include a 1km-long bridge over Sungai Juru.

He said the link was vital as there were now more factories operating in the Penang Science Park and in the neighbouring Bukit Minyak Industrial Park.

“The former Barisan-led state administration started planning the link in 2007 as it envisioned a high number of motorists commuting from the housing schemes in Juru to the factories in Bukit Minyak and Batu Kawan.

“However, the plan, which was being finalised just before the March 2008 general election, was shelved when Pakatan Rakyat took control of Penang after the general election,” he said in an interview recently.

Lai, the former Bukit Tambun assemblyman, said that with the Second Penang Bridge slated for completion by October next year, the traffic volume in Batu Kawan town was expected to triple.

He also said the state government should come up with a comprehensive masterplan for its proposed overall development in Batu Kawan.

“With the Second Penang Bridge connecting Batu Kawan here to Batu Maung on the island, there is bound to be rapid economic growth on both ends of the bridge,” he said.

Lai said many locals in Batu Kawan and Bukit Tambun, who were involved in farming, livestock breeding and seafood export, were worried that their businesses might have to make way for development plans in the future.

“The state should gazette agriculture land in this area to give these businessmen an assurance that they need not have to move out later on.”

He said the residents there had no clue of the type of industries and housing projects that the state planned to develop in the area, especially after the Second Penang Bridge is completed.

Source: The Star