Story by Victor Seow
Pix by Law Suun Ting
IT was indeed a joyful occasion and one which clearly demonstrated that the state government truly cares when the concrete bridge built over the monsoon drain at Jalan Pangsapuri Emas was officiated on Nov 23 by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
According to information provided by the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP), the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the RM195,138 concrete bridge took place on Aug 3 this year and it took a mere 14 weeks for the project to be completed on Nov 5 – earlier than the initially estimated date of completion of Nov 23.
Guan Eng, in his speech, maintained the stand of his administration of reducing traffic congestion whenever and wherever possible in Penang.
He also gave a detailed breakdown of expenses for several road projects within his parliamentary constituency of Bagan.
“The main objective of building this bridge was to provide an alternative route for residents of Pangsapuri Emas and Taman Melur and to reduce travel time for the local residents as they need not use Jalan Raja Uda. This indirectly reduces the traffic volume along Jalan Raja Uda and helps to reduce traffic congestion,” he said.
“It is my wish that residents of Taman Melur and Pangsapuri Emas as well as the parents of students of SJKC Kwang Hwa will have greater mobility by using this bridge. This project is one of the many within my parliamentary constituency of Bagan which includes the widening of Jalan Raja Uda costing RM2 million, the construction of new roads like Jalan P. Patto at RM3.7 million, Jalan Bagan 29 costing RM3.29 million, widening of Jalan Siram at RM8.7 million and the road in front of SRJK (C) Chung Hwa at RM0.97 million. Total expenses is RM18.66 million,” he added.
Also present were state exco members Phee Boon Poh (Welfare, Caring Society and Environment) and Lim Hock Seng (Works, Utilities and Transport), Jawi assemblymember Soon Lip Chee and MPSP president Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif.}