Vital link: An aerial view showing the incomplete stretches of the Jalan Bukit Kukus paired road project in the foreground. In the background is the completed portion by Penang Island City Council, which is the highest elevated highway in Malaysia. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
IT WAS meant to ease traffic jam, but construction of two sections of the RM730.86mil Jalan Bukit Kukus paired road project in Penang has fallen way behind schedule.
This still leaves motorists travelling to the southwest of the island facing the horrendous gridlock.
For now, the winding and hilly Jalan Paya Terubong remains the sole artery for motorists traversing from the densely populated Bandar Baru Air Itam, Paya Terubong and Air Itam to Bukit Jambul, Relau and Balik Pulau and back during peak hours.
Construction of the paired road project, which consists of three sections, started in January 2016.
Motorists descending from the winding Jalan Paya Terubong are often trapped in a severe bottleneck along this crucial route during evening peak hour. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
So far, only the portion by Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has been completed and open to traffic since 2022.
This project cost RM372.86mil for its construction, land acquisition and consultancy.
The other two portions – a 1.04km stretch connecting Taman Lone Pine to Sun Moon City and a 1.4km stretch in front of Taman Paya Terubong (Majestic Heights Phase 2A) – were originally slated for completion next year.
However, due to the ongoing design processes and pending approvals from relevant authorities, the completion of the entire Jalan Bukit Kukus paired road project is hanging in the balance.
Zairil: The two stretches are conditions imposed on developers.
Penang infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said developers PLB Land Sdn Bhd and Geo Valley Sdn Bhd were respectively responsible for construction of the 1.4km (RM185mil) and 1.04km (RM173mil) stretches.
The two road projects were among the conditions imposed on them when they submitted planning permission for their respective housing developments in that area, he said.
Zairil said the planning application for the road construction in front of the Geo Valley development was currently awaiting approval from MBPP’s one-stop centre (OCS).
Based on the decision of the state planning committee, he said the stretch was slated for completion by the end of 2025.
“Earlier, Geo Valley had also faced legal issues when the residents affected by their section of the project took up matters with the State Planning Appeals Board. It lasted a few years.
“The section to be built by PLB Land is still in the design process,” he said.
Zairil said the developer’s planning application for its development plots had yet to be submitted.
“Once approval is granted, the construction of the road will proceed in phases, aligned with the development plots.
“Therefore, the timeline for the completion of the entire Jalan Bukit Kukus paired road has yet to be determined,” he added.
An aerial view shows the designated site (covered in lush greenery) for the 1.04km stretch of the Jalan Bukit Kukus paired road.
Delays and setbacks
The Jalan Bukit Kukus paired road, which is to connect Lebuhraya Thean Teik in Bandar Baru Air Itam and Lebuh Bukit Jambul, was first mooted in 2014.
It was meant to be an alternative route to ease traffic congestion along Jalan Paya Terubong for those travelling from Air Itam, Bandar Baru Air Itam and Paya Terubong to the southwest district.
Among the planned works were the junction improvement of Lebuhraya Thean Tek, widening of the existing Jalan Bukit Kukus, construction of new roads plus an elevated road from Jalan Paya Terubong to Jalan Tun Sardon and an intersection to Lebuh Bukit Jambul with a dedicated right-turn ramp.
In January 2022, the 3.8km stretch carried out by MBPP from Lebuh Bukit Jambul to Jalan Tun Sardon and Paya Terubong was opened to traffic.
Touted as the highest elevated highway in the country at 61.5m above ground, it was reported to have relieved traffic congestion by 30% in the area and benefitted about 60,000 daily users.
The project is also said to be the biggest by the city council.
Work on
Wong: Construction for Geo Valley stretch is set to begin next year. this project was also delayed due to a few reasons, including the Covid-19 movement control order.
There were at least five extensions of time given due to land acquisition issues, slope stabilisation works, relocation of utility lines as well as landslide and blasting permits.
Apart from one of the contractors reportedly cash-strapped, work was also stalled due to an objection hearing.
This segment also has had its fair share of mishaps since it began in 2018.
In October 2018, 14 beams meant to be a platform for a section of the highway fell, leading to the Department of Safety and Health issuing a stop-work order.
Two days later, a landslide mangled 12 container cabins, killing nine foreign workers and injuring four.
Engagement session
Earlier this month, Paya Terubong assemblyman Wong Hon Wai said construction for the stretch managed by Geo Valley Sdn Bhd was set to begin next year.
He said the developer would work with Sunrich Conquest Sdn Bhd to complete the road project.
In addition to the roadworks, Wong said Geo Valley would also launch a 35-storey affordable housing development in the vicinity.
The project would comprise 1,670 residential units, he said.
He added that both the road works and housing projects were slated for completion in four years.
The plans were shared during an engagement session between Geo Valley and residents from Taman Lau Geok Swee and Lebuh Rambai, where the developer addressed concerns and explained the details of the upcoming works.
Wong said MBPP had made it clear that the occupancy certificate for the housing development would only be issued once the road construction was completed.
Syahira has been caught in traffic jam, the worst being three hours.
“This ensures that the roadwork, which involves challenging hillside terrain, is prioritised to mitigate future traffic congestion.
“The road construction is not straightforward, as it involves significant work on hillside terrain, which will take time.
“The state government is committed to completing the Jalan Bukit Kukus project as quickly as possible. This has been planned even before the (Covid-19) pandemic.
During the engagement session, the developer’s representatives also established direct communication with residents, exchanging contact details and encouraging them to report issues or concerns as the projects moved forward.
Need for traffic relief
Finance executive Syahira Mohd Nor, 31, shared her frustrating experience of being stuck in traffic for three hours on Jalan Paya Terubong when a bus crashed into the slope, leaving only one lane open for traffic in both directions.
She said the Jalan Bukit Kukus road project, once entirely completed, would provide an alternative route for motorists and help ease such congestions in the future.
“I have been caught in traffic jam a few times, and the worst was for three hours.
“If the Jalan Bukit Kukus project is completed, at least there will be another route for people to use. It would really help us avoid these long delays,” Syahira added.
Chan: Current bottlenecks must be fixed while waiting for new roads.
Retiree KL Chan, 59, believes the Jalan Bukit Kukus development was essential to alleviate the persistent traffic jam on Jalan Paya Terubong.
“The project is crucial for relieving the heavy traffic in Jalan Paya Terubong.
“Once it is done, residents of Bandar Baru Air Itam won’t have to rely on this road to access the southwest district. They will have a much faster, alternative route,” he said.
Chan called on the authorities to also address several bottlenecks along Jalan Paya Terubong in the interim.
“While we wait for the Jalan Bukit Kukus project to be completed, we hope the authorities can take action to ease the congestion and fix the current bottlenecks along Jalan Paya Terubong,” he said.
