Smoother ride ahead


WORKS on one of the three highways project – the 5.7km Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass – are scheduled to begin at the end of this month.


Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC) chairman Tan Sri Azmi Khalid said the groundbreaking ceremony of Package Two (the 5.7km Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass) was scheduled be held on Oct 31.


“Works will begin in Lebuhraya Thean Teik,” he told a press conference after the ‘Sub-agreement in relation to the construction of a bypass from Bandar Baru Air Itam (Farlim) connecting to Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu (Package 2) in the state of Penang’ signing ceremony at Komtar today.


According to a video presentation during the press conference, the Package Two consists of four interchanges and an elevated U-turn.

The interchanges are in Jalan Thean Teik, Jalan Bukit Gambir, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. The elevated U-turn is to be in Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.


The sub-agreement was between the Penang government and CZC as the project contractor. It was inked by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, representing the state government and Azmi, on behalf of CZC.


The ceremony was witnessed by Penang Financial Officer Datuk Sarul Bahiyah Abu and CZC senior executive director Datuk Lee Chee Hoe.


Chow said that the state executive council, in a meeting on Oct 2, had agreed to sign the sub-agreement to implement the Package Two.


How long is the implementation period for Package Two and how will the Package Two be financed?

Chow said that the implementation period for Package Two is 36 months.


“The cost of this Package Two project is RM851.04 million and it will be implemented on a lump sum contract basis.


“The Consortium will also have to pay the state government in advance, in relation to land acquisition, to compensate the affected land owners. The Consortium will then submit their claim to the government and identify the reclaimed land to be transferred from the state to the Consortium as payment.


“The first parcel of land (to be used as payment) will come from the area now commonly known as Gurney Wharf. Both parties, the Consortium and the state government, will identify a portion of land in Gurney Wharf to be considered as payment. The land reclamation of Gurney Wharf is carried out by Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd,” he said.


Chow said that the contractor would begin working on areas (for Package Two) that are not affected by the land acquisition.


How many packages are there in the entire project?

Chow said that Package Two is part of the three-highway and an undersea tunnel project.

The RM6.3 billion project will comprise the Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass, the Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang bypass, the Gurney Drive-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu bypass and the Gurney Drive-Bagan Ajam undersea tunnel.

Chow said the RM6.3 billion project is part of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).


“The state had transferred two plots of land amounting to RM208 million (from the total of RM305 million) as payment for the preliminary works done such as the feasibility study and detail design of the three major highways,” Chow said.


What is the composition of local contractors for Package Two?

Azmi said that the Package Two would be done by local contractors and a portion of them would be from Penang.


He also said that China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) is the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for CZC.


Chow said local contractors would benefit from the project.


How soon will the undersea tunnel works commence?

Chow said the works for Package Two would begin first.


“The state will have to decide which package is next, based on the priority. The Consortium will prepare the needful, such as the necessary drawings and draft of the sub-agreement. For the remaining packages, the process is similar as the Package Two,” he said.


Meeting the deadline

Commenting on the Package Two alignment, Chow said there are about 70% elevated sections and bridges, while the rest are at-grade.


“I have said before that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the three highways was approved on Nov 7, 2017. The EIA approval is valid for two years, in which, works must commence within that period before it expires. We are meeting the deadline,” Chow said.


PENANG HIGHWAY (PACKAGE 2)



source from: Buletin Mutiara


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