GEORGE TOWN: The RM851 million Air Itam–Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass project has reached 93.19 per cent physical progress as of Sept 30 and is expected to be completed by April 2027.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the remaining works on the 5.7-kilometre project would continue to be financed by the contractor, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC), which requires about RM50 million more to complete the project.
“The project’s financing is not affected even though part of the land at Gurney Bay allocated through the land swap mechanism to fund the project has yet to be sold in a recent bidding exercise.
“The land can be sold to a third party or used by CZC for development, depending on the contractor’s decision. The state government is also prepared to transfer the land to CZC or a company nominated by the contractor, in line with the land swap arrangement,” he told reporters after visiting Package 2 of the project here today.
Also present were State Secretary Datuk Dr Jafri Abdul Jalil, State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, Penang Infrastructure Corporation Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus, and CZC managing director Tan Sri Dr Khor Eng Chuen.
Chow said the main works, including bridge and viaduct structures, had been completed, while follow-up works such as parapet joining and the installation of new Jersey barriers were ongoing.
Paving works are scheduled to begin at the end of this month, with all related works expected to be completed before April 2027.
Meanwhile, Chow said construction of the multi-level U-turn flyover on the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway by IJM Land Bhd, which had reached 18.56 per cent completion, was targeted to be completed in April 2027 so that it could open simultaneously with the bypass.
He said the facility would allow vehicles heading towards the bridge to use the multi-level U-turn route, providing a smoother travel option.
The Package 2 project is the state government’s first project under the Penang Transport Master Plan, connecting Bandar Baru Air Itam and Farlim directly to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.
Once completed, the route is expected to shorten travel times and ease congestion on existing routes through Green Lane and Jalan Masjid Negeri.