PTMP: First project to commence in February - Chow

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 15 -- The construction work of the bypass connecting Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway to Ayer Itam will commence on Feb 1, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Chow said the construction of the six kilometres bypass, under the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), is expected to be completed on Jan 3, 2025 and will benefit the people of Penang in terms of reducing travel time.

“This is the first project under PTMP and is seen as an important milestone achievement in continuing the implementation of the three paired roads and undersea tunnel project, to alleviate traffic and reduce road congestion,” he said in a statement here today.

Earlier, Chow attended the signing of supplemental agreement to the sub-agreement in relation to the construction of the bypass connecting Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway to Ayer Itam (Package 2), between the Penang government and Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC) here.

He said that CZC would begin construction work on Feb 1 which aims to reduce road congestion while acting as a long-term solution.

PTMP is a state government initiative project with an estimated total cost of RM46 billion, including undersea tunnel connecting parts of the island to the mainland, highways, Light Rail Transit (LRT) services, monorails and a comprehensive network of bus routes across the island and mainland.

Apart from Package 2, there are three other packages under PTMP, namely, the construction of the north coastal paired road from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang (Package 1); construction of bypass connecting Jalan Pangkor-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (Package 3) and undersea tunnel (Package 4).

-- BERNAMA