New link: Rajendran explaining the new paired road project in Jalan Bukit Kukus

A NEW paired road costing RM300mil will be built to connect Lebuhraya Thean Teik in Bandar Baru Air Itam to Lebuh Bukit Jambul, Penang, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.

The new link – Jalan Bukit Kukus – is an alternative way to ease traffic congestion in Jalan Paya Terubong, he added.

“It will benefit some 60,000 motorists who use the road daily. They are often caught in a massive traffic congestion which occurs along the road especially during peak hours.

“The total length of Jalan Bukit Kukus is 4.87km. About 1.22km of it has already been constructed, so we need to work on the balance 3.65km now,” he said in a press conference yesterday.

Lim said the state government would fund half of the construction and the other half would be borne by a private developer chosen through open tender.

“The whole project is expected to be ready in four years’ time,” he said.

Lim added that the cost was quite high since the dual carriageway was located at a slope and directional ramps with interchange were required at certain parts of it for safety reasons.

“Traffic congestion is expected to be reduced by 15%. There will be no toll along the new road,” he quipped.

Penang Municipal Council engineering department deputy director A. Rajendran explained that the 816m stretch connecting Taman Lone Pine to Sun Moon City would be developed by Geo Valley Sdn Bhd, which is a member of the Lone Pine Group.

“Another 1.4km in front of Taman Paya Terubong (Majestic Heights Phase 2A) will be handled by PLB Land Sdn Bhd, the developer of the Majestic Heights building,” he said.

He said the estimated cost of the 816m stretch was RM60mil while the remaining 2.83km was RM240mil.

“The road from Lebuhraya Thean Teik to Sun Moon City covering about 1.9km is expected to be ready by 2017,” he added.

Rajendran said the road-reserve width for the dual carriageway had been set at 20.117m.

Source: StarProperty.my