Air Itam bypass reaches 93.19%, completion expected by April 2027
CZC needs about RM50 million more to finish the project, with contractor financing supporting remaining construction despite unsold Gurney Bay land.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the RM851 million Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass was 93.19% complete as of Sept 30. The 5.7km project is expected to be finished by April 2027, with the contractor financing the work still outstanding.
Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC) requires about RM50 million more to finish construction, Chow said after inspecting Package 2. He said funding was unaffected by a recent bidding exercise in which some Gurney Bay land earmarked for the project's land swap arrangement remained unsold.
Chow said CZC could choose between developing the land and selling it to a third party. The state was prepared to transfer the land either to CZC or to a company the contractor nominated.
Bridge and viaduct structures were finished, Chow said, while crews continued with parapet joining and new jersey barrier installation.
A separate multi-level U-turn flyover being built by IJM Land Bhd at the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway was at 18.56% progress. Chow said the April 2027 completion target was intended to enable both projects to open together.
Package 2 is the first state government project under the Penang Transport Master Plan. It will give Bandar Baru Air Itam and Farlim a direct connection to the expressway, with shorter journeys and less congestion expected on routes through Green Lane and Jalan Masjid Negeri.
