Penang is planning a massive transportation network that includes four highways, an eight-lane highway in the Persiaran Gurney, a light-rail transit (LRT) and an undersea tunnel. The state-initiated Penang TransportMaster Plan (PTMP) components are comprised of a public transport component and a highway component.

The First project – owned by the Penang state government with a RM6.34bil value - involves the construction of three toll-free roads and of a 7.2km undersea tolled tunnel. Of the total RM6.34bil price tag, a total of RM305mil is estimated for the feasibility study and detailed design, RM546mil for land acquisition and RM5.49bil for construction.

The contract had been awarded to Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd in 2013. But it has taken them years to conduct the feasibility studies. The feasibility study for the three major roads  - from Air Itam to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (5.7km), Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang (10.53km), and Jalan Pangkor-Gurney Drive junction to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (4.1km) - was completed on Jan 26^th ,2016 and the approval for the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment was received on Nov 7^th ,2017. The approvals for the three roads are all now settled.

The feasibility studies for the proposed 7.2km Penang Undersea Tunnel project connecting George Town’s Jalan Pangkor with Bagan Ajam in Butterwort (at least 20m below the seabed) are in the final stages. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had carried out an investigation into the proposed Penang undersea tunnel project in the first quarter of 2018. No prosecution has been made. The MACC  had sent two letters on Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (Zenith) clearing them of any impropriety following a call by the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism for the project to be shelved pending investigations.

Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd has clarified that a master agreement was signed on Aug 2^nd  that indicated the Penang state government’s commitment to proceed with the construction of the infrastructure works.

The first phase of the project is the 5.7-km Ayer Itam-Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu bypass. The cost of the first out of three roads, where construction would start in October, is estimated at RM1.07bil. Click here and my/15 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit http://zenithengineers.com/ http://www.zenithbucg.com/  and https://www.penang.gov.my. 37/19.

https://www.iproperty.com.my/news/penang-transport-master-plan-1-ptmp-1-is-now-approved-here-are-6-things-you-need-to-know/