Penang On Track And Well-Prepared For Large Scale Projects

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow revealed today that the state government plans to enact comprehensive traffic management solutions to lessen disturbances from upcoming large-scale construction.

Drawing on insights gained from a past visit to Gamuda in Kuala Lumpur, particularly their traffic management strategies during LRT construction, the government is well prepared, he says.

While acknowledging that projects like the Penang South Islands (PSI), Mutiara Line LRT, and the Juru–Sungai Dua Elevated Highway will likely lead to temporary traffic congestion, Chow affirmed that such disruptions are an expected element of development.


“I believe all contractors involved in these major projects in Penang will take traffic dispersal into account. The key consideration is to maintain the original number of lanes during construction

“Even if parts of the road need to be closed to vehicles, additional space must be created to ensure that the same number of lanes remains available,” he says, adding that proper state management could ease traffic and improve travel.

Chow also confirmed the Juru-Sungai Dua Elevated Highway construction would begin by year's end, and the Penang LRT project, starting in Q3, would be completed in six to seven years.

In addition, significant progress has also been made on the Penang South Islands (PSI) project, with 60.71ha of land reclaimed over the last 18 months. Looking ahead, the state administration anticipates positive announcements from the federal government regarding incentives for industrial property buyers.

During the October 2024 budget announcement, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced several key Penang projects, including the Juru–Sungai Dua Elevated Highway, enhancements to Penang International Airport, and the new Batu Kawan Industrial Park 3.

Photo: Penang Property Talk.
Notably, the 29.5km Mutiara Line LRT, featuring 21 stops, aims to significantly improve transportation links between Penang island and the mainland, addressing both general accessibility and road congestion issues.