GEORGE TOWN: The planned North Coastal Paired Road, initially stretching 10.5km along the foothills of Penang island’s northern coast, has been "redesigned" to avoid residential areas by running an elevated portion of it along the coast and above the sea.
Penang infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the new plan is now pending approval from the state and construction may start as soon as early next year.
"The previous design goes through residential areas and the new design would avoid much fewer of these.
"Last time, it was right next to houses on both sides, but we have moved it away to minimise risk during construction and for the safety of residents.
"The new design would go around and out to sea, with some parts elevated above the sea.
"The design has been done internally and it needs to be tabled for formal approval from the state, including its costing, hopefully within the next two months," he told reporters at the state assembly Wednesday (Nov 27).
He said work may then start for areas that do not require land acquisition.
Zairil, who said the project, although being similar to being a coastal highway, however denied that it would be similar to the Butterworth Outer Ring Road coastal expressway project on the mainland.
"This is a new idea. It might be the first of its kind in south-east Asia," he said without detailing further on the new alignment but said it would remain from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang, but not to Gurney Drive under this package.
Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd would remain as the main project contractor, added Zairil.
It was reported that the proposed paired road from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang will reduce the travelling time between the two places by more than half.
The project and the Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu bypass are among three new roads planned as part of a traffic dispersal system before the proposed undersea tunnel can connect Gurney Drive on the island to Bagan Ajam in Butterworth.
The third road in the package is 4km between Gurney Drive and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, which half of it is to be an underground tunnel while the other half will be elevated, and is still subject to review.
In a separate matter, Zairil said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is working towards realigning the roads in Tanjung Tokong to ease traffic congestion.
"The council is working on changing some roads to one-way," he said.
