GEORGE TOWN, Aug 17 – Penang Chief Minister YAB Lim Guan Eng hold a emergency press conference at Komtar here this morning said the state government are upset on the traffic congestion this morning due to the failure traffic diversion planning from JKR.
The Penang state government had been set up a crisis management team that headed by the Public Works Department (PWK) which is to handle the massive traffic congestion due to the section of expressway closure to give way for a flyover project in Bayan Lepas.
“The team will be coordinate closely with PWK to ensure that the safety of public due to the 390 meters structure with a load weighing at a staggering 14,000 tonnes which was 13 times heavier that a section of the ramp along Tun Dr LiM Chong Eu Expressway that collapsed nearby the construction site back in 2013. We do not want to see the same thing happen Penang,” said CM Lim.
“Social media was abuzz with angry and puzzled road users who shared their gripes on the gridlock as they were late for work. As the road users’ safety would be the priority and ruled out partial closure. For this would be the posed of the high risk to the motorists,” he said.
“There did not have any guarantee from the workers on site to anyone’s safety when they were to proceed with their construction works. Besides that, I also hope that the worst traffic congestion in recent years as a crisis can be handle it immediately,” he added.
“Meanwhile, JKR will be send out their engineer to the main area for 1 week to observe the traffic congestion as it has been promises to the public. In additional, MBPP and police will also be in the areas to support and help for the traffic,” CM Lim added.
“It would be speeded up to the construction that could minimise daily disruption to road users. This project would take a maximum of five months and would be completed by January 14, next year but we are aimed at completing the flyover by December,” said UEM Builder Bhd construction manager Ismade Ismil.
“I would like to advise the user from George Town city centre and Penang Bridge heading to the Penang International Airport, Teluk Kumbar, Batu Maung and Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge (JSAHMS) may use Jalan Tun Dr Awang via Bayan Baru roundabout,” he said.
“Besides that, user from JSAHMS and Batu Maung heading to George Town city centre and Penang Bridge are advise to take Jalan Permatang Damar Laut via Bayan Lepas roundabout and Jalan Tun Dr Awang. In the same time, we will also hold a daily press conference at out Penang Branch office to update the public on the construction,” said UEM Builder Bhd construction manager Ismade Ismil.
