Penang DAP rep slams noisy road construction past midnight

 

The construction site for the bypass at Bukit Gambir, where a twin tunnel is expected to be drilled and blasted. (Penang CMO pic)

GEORGE TOWN: A bypass road being built around a hill here has earned the ire of a DAP assemblyman after its construction purportedly continued into the early hours of the morning.

Seri Delima assemblyman Connie Tan said the construction on the bypass road spanning Bukit Batu Lanchang and Bukit Hijau continued past 12.30am today.

She also claimed work on the project carried on during weekends and public holidays.

The 5km Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass will connect Air Itam and a coastal highway in the east of the island.

“This is depriving residents of their well-deserved rest. This continuous disturbance, especially during late hours, is a direct violation of the residents’ rights to peace and rest,” Tan said in a statement.

“The residents of Penang deserve to live in a community where their rights are respected and their voices heard. As an elected representative, I will not stand by and allow any entity to undermine the peace and comfort of our people.”

Tan claimed the construction work had damaged nearby condominiums and resulted in floods with muddy waters, further distressing residents.

She called for an immediate stop to all overtime construction activities and for the project owner to adhere to the prescribed working hours.

Tan said emergency mitigation work should not be used as an excuse for disruptions, stating that more workers should be deployed during daytime to expedite the project.

She said the project owner, the Penang Infrastructure Corporation, should enhance its monitoring system for construction projects to ensure compliance with regulations.

Tan said the state-owned company should be issued a stop-work order if it failed to adhere to guidelines.

“The state government must prioritise the welfare of its citizens and take decisive action against any entity that jeopardises their safety and comfort,” she said.

FMT has reached out to the Penang Infrastructure Corporation, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, and state officials for comment.

The 5km project, costing RM851 million, is part of the larger RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel and three main roads project.

The bypass road will have four interchanges – at Lebuhraya Thean Teik, Jalan Bukit Gambier, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (George Town-bound).

Work is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year. - FMT