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- The project is one of the main initiatives for Penang that was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when he tabled Budget 2025 on Oct 18 last year.
BUKIT MERTAJAM (Oct 21): PLUS Malaysia Bhd (PLUS) announced that work on Package 1 of the traffic dispersal project between the Juru and Sungai Dua toll plazas (PTJSD) here began on Tuesday.
It added that Naza Engineering and Construction Sdn Bhd had been appointed as the main contractor for the package through an open tender process.
"Package 1, which comprises work to upgrade the roundabout at KM135.15-KM135.4 of the East-West Elevated Intersection (Butterworth-Kulim Expressway) and the construction of a new flyover at Jalan Tun Hussein Onn (KM133.5-KM134.5), would be implemented for 24 months.
"Package 1 is part of the PTJSD Project packages and is aimed at dispersing traffic in the area, as well as to enable motorists and locals to enjoy a smoother journey,” PLUS said in a statement Tuesday.
It added that, overall, the PTJSD is a high-impact project that will benefit about 200,000 daily users through the reduction of congestion on the route.
It said that during the initial stages of the upgrading work, traffic flow would not be affected as the existing two lanes on both sides of the expressway would remain open to motorists, adding that it would also provide updates from time to time regarding the project via social media.
The project is one of the main initiatives for Penang that was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when he tabled Budget 2025 on Oct 18 last year, in addition to the Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the expansion of the Penang International Airport and the Batu Kawan Industrial Park 3.
The media had previously reported that the implementation of the Juru-Sungai Dua traffic dispersal project would involve a 17.4-kilometre (km) highway and a 9km elevated alignment.
Penang Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari was also quoted as saying that the project would cover eight phases of development, which will include an intersection without traffic lights and two elevated U-turns, to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Zairil added that apart from the construction of the highway, several critical intersections would also be upgraded, including the Juru Utara Elevated Intersection (Autocity), the Penang Bridge Intersection and Jalan Baru Overpass, as well as additional flyovers from Jalan Tun Hussein Onn to the North-South Expressway.
The concept of the highway will separate local traffic from direct traffic flow, as implemented in Ipoh, Perak, where users travelling north do not need to exit the Juru toll, while those travelling south do not need to exit at the Sungai Dua toll.
The project also involves the implementation of a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) to reduce the impact on road users throughout the construction period of the Juru-Sungai Dua Elevated Expressway.
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