GEORGE TOWN (Oct 24): The RM851 million Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass project has reached 93.19% physical progress as of Sept 30 and is expected to be completed by April 2027.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the remaining works on the 5.7km project will continue through contractor financing, with Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC) requiring about RM50 million more to reach completion.

"The project's financing is not affected even though part of the land at Gurney Bay allocated through the land swap mechanism to fund the project has yet to be sold in a recent bidding exercise.

"The land can be sold to a third party or used by CZC for development, depending on the contractor's decision. The state government is also prepared to transfer the land to CZC or a company nominated by the contractor, in line with the land swap arrangement," he told reporters after visiting Package 2 of the project here on Saturday.

Also present were state secretary Datuk Dr Jafri Abdul Jalil, State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, Penang Infrastructure Corporation Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus, and CZC managing director Tan Sri Dr Khor Eng Chuen.

Chow said the main works, including bridge and viaduct structures, have been completed, while follow-up works such as parapet joining and the installation of new jersey barriers are ongoing.

Paving works are scheduled to begin at the end of this month, with all related works to be completed before April 2027.

Meanwhile, Chow said construction of the multi-level U-turn flyover at the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway by IJM Land Bhd, currently at 18.56% progress, is targeted for completion in April 2027 so that it can be opened simultaneously with the bypass.

He said the facility will allow vehicles heading towards the bridge to use the multi-level U-turn route, providing a smoother travel option.

The Package 2 project is the state government's first project under the Penang Transport Master Plan, connecting Bandar Baru Air Itam and Farlim directly to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.

Once completed, the route is expected to shorten travel time and ease congestion on existing routes through Green Lane and Jalan Masjid Negeri.

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Penang to auction six-acre land to raise funds to complete Ayer Itam bypass

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