Road project aimed at shortening routes and reducing jams

Sorting out details: (From left) Chew, Wong and contractors discussing the road realignment and expansion at the project site.

THREE roads in Air Itam, Penang, are being realigned and expanded by a developer carrying out a mixed development project in the area.

Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai said the realignment and expansion of Jalan Pisang Embun, Jalan Pisang Rastali and Jalan Pisang Berangan were part of the requirements imposed by the Penang Municipal Council.

The developer’s technical officer Chew Kwong Weng explained that the three two-way tarred roads were all currently about 5m in width.

“Jalan Pisang Embun, Jalan Pisang Rastali and Jalan Pisang Berangan will be expanded to 20.1m, 12.2m and 15.2m respectively.

“The total length of the three roads is about 3km,” he said at the site yesterday.

Wong said the road realignment and expansion project started in January and was expected to be completed by the end of next year.

“This project will be beneficial for all residents in Air Itam, especially those living near the three roads,” he said.

He added that the expansion was timely as it would provide a shorter route to the proposed 4.6km Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu-Bandar Baru Air Itam bypass.

He said traffic congestion in the area was expected to be reduced as well when the project was completed.

Wong also said a new drainage system would be built from SMK Air Itam to Sungai Dondang in Air Itam.

“This drain will help disperse rainwater when there is a downpour in Air Itam which usually causes a flashflood,” he said.

Earlier, Wong handed two computers and five sets of stone tables and chairs worth a total of about RM8,000 to SJK(C) Sin Kang in Air Itam. 

The money to buy the items was from his constituency allocation. - The Star