Thousands Of Penangites Were Stuck In A 3-Hour Traffic Jam Due To Road Closure
This situation may last for the next 5 months if alternative solutions are not established to ensure smoother traffic flow.
By Samantha Khor — 17 Aug 2015, 01:31 PM
Penang CM issues stop work order to JKR after "worst traffic congestion crisis"
In a series of tweets yesterday evening (17 August), Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that roads will be reopened for public safety. The road upgrading works in Lebuhraya Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu, which he explained is a Federal Government project, will also be halted until a better diversion plan can be devised after the traffic nightmare during peak hours yesterday.
Federal govt proj.We have 2accept JKR advice on road closure 4public safety but road diversion needs big improvement https://t.co/TG2OpmOxd4
— Lim Guan Eng (@cmlimguaneng) August 17, 2015
Upset dat UEM/JKR traffic diversion 4RM337M proj failed.Traffic crisis.Told JKR to reopen road 2mrw morning n stop work.Awaiting better plan
— Lim Guan Eng (@cmlimguaneng) August 17, 2015
Pg's worst traffic congestion crisis in Bayan Lepas/Batu Maung.Traffic diversion by uem/jkr failed.Road will reopen 2mrw wid stop work order
— Lim Guan Eng (@cmlimguaneng) August 17, 2015
4public safety no constructn work permitted by uem on the reopened road. Awaiting UEM/JKR's better diversion plan wid extra people on ground
— Lim Guan Eng (@cmlimguaneng) August 17, 2015
Meanwhile, the traffic situation this morning (18 August) seems to have returned to normal after the roads were reopened
17 AUG: On Monday morning (17 August), thousands of Penangites found themselves late for work and school, with some missing their morning flights, due to a massive traffic congestion in roads leading into Bayan Baru and Bayan Lepas
The closure of a section of Lebuhraya Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu for road upgrading works resulted in motorists getting stuck in a bumper-to-bumper crawl for up to 3 hours on the aformentioned expressway and Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah since the wee hours of the morning
The bumper-to-bumper crawl on Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu stretched for some 5km while on Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, traffic was moving at a mere 10km/h.
thestar.com.my
The congestion is mainly concentrated in areas surrounding Bayan Baru, Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, Sungai Ara, Teluk Kumbar and surrounding townships, with residents finding it trying to even leave their residential areas
The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) posted the road closure notice on its Facebook page on 14 August, announcing that a stretch of Lebuhraya Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu will be closed for 5 months from 15 August 2015 to 14 January 2016
Motorists were also advised to use alternative routes to get to their destinations due to the road closure.
Attached to the announcements are two inforgraphics detailing the traffic flow for the next 5 months, with some road sections in the Bayan Lepas area changed to one-way flows.
The massive jam today certainly does not bode well for the traffic situation for the next 5 months!
In fact, a message circulating on WhatsApp is urging Penangites to contact Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and their respective people's representatives (YB) to call for an emergeny meeting with relevant authorities in order to solve the problem ASAP and avoid another massive traffic jam.
Were you stuck in the jam with thousands of other Penangites this morning? Send us some photos if you have any!
You can submit your photos and a brief description of your traffic jam experience to [email protected].