KUALA LUMPUR: The RM33 million Mount Erskine underpass in Penang is being redesigned to use a tunnel to avoid excavating a busy road, which could worsen traffic congestion during construction.
Deputy housing and local government minister Aiman Athirah Sabu said the earlier plan to excavate the road would have required major road closures, affecting motorists using Mount Erskine, Jalan Gottlieb, Jalan Burma and Jalan Bagan Jermal.
“If we close the roads, there will be even more complaints,” she said in response to a question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera) during today's Dewan Rakyat special chamber session.
Aiman said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), which is overseeing the project, had completed the land acquisition process and appointed consultants to prepare the design.
The project was initially reported to cost RM25 million when it was announced in the federal budget last year. Aiman said the Penang government had sought RM33 million for the project during a meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in March last year.
She said the federal government initially approved RM5 million for preliminary work this year but approved the full RM33 million on June 9 after MBPP completed the work ahead of schedule.
“The project has not been delayed. It is still in the technical preparation phase, which is critical to ensure construction safety and quality,” she said.
Syerleena had asked whether construction would begin by the end of this year, as previously expected, and requested a clear project timetable.
Aiman said the design was expected to be completed by December, with the tender process scheduled to begin in February 2027 and close by the end of March. She added that the contractor is expected to be appointed in June.
The contractor is expected to take over the site in July 2027, with the underpass scheduled for completion in November 2030. Aiman said the new tunnel would be about 780m long and 8m wide.
The project had drawn objections from affected landowners. In June last year, FMT had reported that Mount Erskine resident Charles Byrne opposed the acquisition of part of his land.
State executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari defended the underpass as necessary to ease chronic traffic congestion. However, transport groups have questioned whether the project would provide a lasting solution.
No request from Penang to build roads along northern coast
In a separate reply, works minister Ahmad Maslan said Penang had not asked the federal government to build or upgrade roads along the island’s congested northern coast, particularly between Tanjung Tokong and Teluk Bahang.
Ahmad said the state must prioritise road upgrades before seeking federal funding. He said his ministry also had no immediate plans to carry out a traffic and safety assessment along the stretch.
Syerleena had asked for short-term measures to ease congestion pending completion of the 10.61km North Coastal Paired Road, a separate state project expected to be completed in 2031.
Ahmad suggested that Syerleena write to Anwar to request an extension of the planned Mutiara LRT line towards Bukit Bendera, as the current route does not reach her constituency.
“You’re from the same state, aren’t you? The prime minister could extend it a little to solve your problem,” he said.