GEORGE TOWN: Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow has expressed confidence that the long-awaited Air Itam-Lim Chong Eu Expressway (LCE) bypass project will be completed by April next year before being opened to the public.
He said contractor Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC) had committed to completing the RM851 million project within the given timeframe.
As of Sept 30, the project progress rate was 93.19%.
"The number of working teams has been increased to speed up work and meet the targeted timeframe," Chow said at a press conference after visiting the project site at Gelugor.
He said the main works, such as the construction of bridge structures and viaducts, had been completed.
The focus is now on follow-up works like connecting parapets, installing road barriers, and paving works, which will begin at the end of this month.
"However, before this bypass is opened to users, this route must undergo a technical compliance inspection and a road safety audit to ensure that all technical standards and safety requirements are met."
The chief minister also sought to assure that the state government would not face a funding crunch following reports that there were no bidders for the auction of 2.44ha of land in Gurney Bay intended to finance the remainder of the project.
He said CZC would foot the remaining RM50 million needed to complete the project. In return, the state government will transfer ownership of several land lots in Gurney Bay to the firm.
The 5.7km bypass, the first project under the Penang Transport Master Plan, will connect Air Itam and Farlim directly to the LCE. It is expected to shorten travelling time and ease congestion along Green Lane and Jalan Masjid Negeri.
The project was awarded to CZC in September 2013. The bypass was initially slated for completion in 2025 but was delayed until next year.