GEORGE TOWN: The Public Private Partnership Unit (UKAS) under the Prime Minister's Department and PLUS Malaysia Bhd have officially started discussions on the construction of the Juru–Sungai Dua elevated highway project to address the persistent traffic woes in Seberang Prai.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow urged PLUS to prioritise the implementation of the elevated highway as soon as possible to benefit the people and potential investors.
"Traffic congestion is not only felt in Seberang Prai but also on the island, particularly along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, which leads to the Penang Bridge, and in Bayan Baru and Bayan Lepas.
"Concerns are being raised by the industry sector in Bayan Lepas because they are worried that these traffic issues may impact the decisions of potential investors considering expansion in Penang.
"Also, the worry of not being able to hire talents as there is no one who will want to get stuck in traffic jams for hours, especially not when you get off work in the evening," he said today.
A delegation from UKAS, led by its director-general Datuk Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, paid a courtesy visit to Chow in Komtar yesterday.
Chow hoped that after meeting with UKAS yesterday, this would be an engine that would drive more relevant collaborations in the future, be it from the federal or other agencies, to assist in materialising this plan.
If completed, the highway will also alleviate traffic around the North-South Expressway, which handles traffic into Kedah and Perak.