Repairs completed, traffic on Jalan Batu Ferringhi returns to normal

Workers preparing to remove barriers placed along Jalan Batu Ferringhi today. (PWD pic)

GEORGE TOWN: Busy Jalan Batu Ferringhi, used to go to beaches and holiday resorts, is fully open now to traffic.

This follows speedy remedial work undertaken by the Public Works Department (PWD) over the past five days following a landslide on a road shoulder that closed half the road.

A 50m section of the George Town-bound road was closed since Tuesday night after the landslide that took the lives of four Myanmar workers.

Earlier, it was anticipated that PWD would take a month to finish the work.

The partial road closure had caused a massive traffic jam.

Today, state Public Works Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the PWD had completed work at the affected area by doing sheet piling to shore up the road.

He said the work was completed by 10.30 last night. However, planned extensive repair works have yet to be completed.

The landslide occurred after the workers were engaged by a resort to strengthen a slope next to the road.

Penang Island City Council city engineer Rajendran P Anthony said the resort landowner had now appointed a geotechnical engineer to advise them on what repairs could be carried out on their site.

“We have also received feedback from the Institution of Engineers Malaysia on this matter and we are keeping a close watch on all things here.”

The four Myanmar workers buried alive in the landslide were identified later as Mg Seng Pya, 38, Nai Cho Inn, 49, Mg Htwe, 38 and Aung Tung Aye, 49.

The council said the landowner had carried out the earthworks illegally. - FMT