THE highly anticipated Juru-Sungai Dua Elevated Highway project is set to begin its physical works in Quarter 4 this year, according to state Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari.
He said the decision was made following the Value Assessment workshop, which involved the participation of the Works Ministry, Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), PLUS Malaysia Berhad, and the Seberang Perai City Council, representing the Penang government.
“During the workshop, the Works Ministry announced that an agreement was made with PLUS to carry out the physical works in Q4, 2025, and is expected to be fully completed in 2030.
“As for the total cost for the project, we had previously said it would go up to RM3 billion, but it is subject to changes, primarily for a reduced amount, pending approval from the Works Ministry,” Zairil told a press conference in Komtar today.
Elaborating further, he stated that the project, funded by the Federal Government, will separate traffic from local traffic, significantly reducing severe congestion in both directions between the Sungai Juru Toll and the Sungai Dua Toll.
“This means there will be a dedicated express lane for vehicles in through traffic mode (from the Juru Toll to Sungai Dua) and separate exit ramps for vehicles using local traffic routes.
“The Juru-Sungai Dua Elevated Highway project is like the one in Ipoh, Perak, where vehicles using the express route will no longer need to exit the toll, while only those travelling on local routes will have to exit.
“Unlike the current system, where all vehicles, regardless of whether they are continuing their journey or accessing local roads, must exit at the Juru Toll first before re-entering the North-South Expressway at the Sungai Dua Toll.
“This elevated highway will provide a more seamless and efficient traffic flow,” Zairil added.
Relatively, Zairil stated that the Juru–Sungai Dua Elevated Highway project, which consists of eight phases, will be upgraded into a traffic-light-free highway.
“The approach involves constructing two elevated U-turns, eliminating the need for traffic lights, ensuring a seamless flow of vehicles,” he explained, expressing hope that the project would help ease congestion at the signalised intersection near Jalan Kebun Nenas, Bukit Tengah.
He further mentioned that the Seberang Jaya roundabout would also be redesigned as an elevated structure without traffic lights to improve vehicle movement towards the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE).
“The entire project spans 17.4 kilometres (km), with the elevated sections covering approximately 8.95 km,” he added.
When asked by reporters, Zairil clarified that, as of now, the relevant authorities have not been informed of any proposed toll rate increase for North-South Expressway (PLUS) users due to the construction of the Juru-Sungai Dua Elevated Highway.
“As of now, the state government has not received any information on the matter,” he reiterated.
In a separate development, Zairil announced a proposed project to upgrade the road from the BORR (Butterworth Outer Ring Road) intersection (Section 765) to Permatang Pak Elong (Section 733) on Federal Route 001.
This project involves upgrading the existing two-lane road into a four-lane dual carriageway over an 8km stretch.
It will also include the installation of streetlights, traffic signals, improved drainage systems, and other necessary road infrastructure.
“The project will upgrade seven existing intersections, with five of them being converted to ‘Left in Left Out’ (LILO) configurations, complemented by free-flow U-turns.
“Meanwhile, two intersections will be upgraded with traffic signals,” he added.
With an estimated cost of RM561.6 million, Zairil stated that the Public Works Department (JKR) is planning to commence preliminary works in the third quarter of 2025 (Q3 2025).
Also present during the press conference were Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik, MBSP mayor Datuk Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid, state Deputy Secretary (Development) Mohd Zakuan Zakaria, and state JKR director Ahmad Nadzri Abdul Majid.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhammad