GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government and Putrajaya’s Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) will be conducting a study on alleviating congestion along the Juru-Sg Dua stretch of the North-South Expressway.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said NCIA as the federal agency has the expertise to help the state find alternatives to cope with the worsening traffic congestion in Nibong Tebal and Butterworth.
The 25km stretch is an important traffic dispersal artery for the vehicles heading in and out of the Penang-Kedah industrial corridors with shipment exports valued at RM447 billion annually.
Penang previously proposed an overhead bypass to combat the daily gridlock along the stretch, which worsens during festive seasons and school holidays.
Chow said NCIA will help undertake a study to determine if the overhead highway bypass is feasible.
“The Juru-Sg Dua stretch has traffic from three states – Perlis, Kedah and Penang – with some 1.3 million people using it daily.
“The congestion has impacted the economy of Penang. Traffic has spilt over to local roads and the Penang Bridge. This has reduced our competitive edge and productivity,” he said in a press conference yesterday.
The mounting congestion reduces traffic to almost a standstill on certain days, impacting the delivery time of cargo shipments and commuters reporting for work.
NCIA chief executive officer Haris Kader Sultan said the agency will seek funds from the rollout schemes under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“The study will cost at least RM5 million and will be carried out next year once funds are available,” said the Penang-born executive.
Separately, Chow said the Penang Water Authority Holdings (PBAPP) will take heed of the criticism and suggestions after the state saw a second major water supply disruption in 12 months.
Last Sunday, up to 600,000 consumers in Penang and 200,000 in Kedah suffered water supply disruption when waters from Sg Muda were wrongly discharged into the Malacca Straits after a sensor at the water gates along the state border malfunctioned.
Chow’s predecessor Lim Guan Eng was critical of PBAPP, saying it lacked crisis management during last week’s disruptions. – The Vibes, May 20, 2023
