THE number of vehicles plying the roads in Pulau Tikus are expected to increase by 4.15% yearly.
Furthermore, the number of vehicles is also set to increase to 8,500 daily by 2024.
Motorists plying the roads – Gottlieb Road, Jalan Bagan Jermal, Burmah Road and Jalan Mount Erskine – are frequently experiencing traffic congestion.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (PH – Padang Kota) said traffic congestion would remain unsolved and economic growth in the area would be ‘halted’ if the problem is not addressed.
“A proposed RM30 million underpass connecting Mount Erskine to Burmah Road can mitigate the traffic congestion and spur economic development in the surrounding area.
“According to the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) report conducted in 2015, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) had stated that some 10,000 new housing units are expected to be built in Mount Erskine, Fettes Park and Lembah Permai by 2024 after the proposed project is completed,” Chow replied to a question by Lee Chun Kit (PH – Pulau Tikus ) during the State Legislative Assembly in Dewan Sri Pinang today.
On compensation matters, Chow said affected landowners would be compensated according to the value determined by the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH). The value of the lands is according to the market value.
“Landowner can bring the case to court if they are unsatisfied the amount of compensation,” he said.
Chow also said that the proposed Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1) project would be passing though Jalan Bagan Jermal and Gottlieb Road.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad