Maslan: 15 KM Juru-Sungai Dua Elevated Highway To Cost RM1.8B

The proposed 15 KM Juru-Sungai Dua (JSD) elevated highway, which aims to reduce congestion between Juru and Sungai Dua, is expected to cost RM1.8 billion. It also recently completed the first of three stages of project confirmation.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, Deputy Works Minister said recently, "The state officially sought approval for the project from the federal government following which, PLUS Malaysia presented its proposal to the Prime Minister's Department's Public-Private Partnership Unit in Feb. The discussions are however still underway.”

He also added that once confirmed, the next step would be to seek Cabinet approval. Maslan however is quite optimistic with this project as he voiced his excitement about the project, highlighting its potential long-term benefits for Penang and adjacent states, which routinely experiences heavy traffic. However, the JSD project would nevertheless be a construction hurdle as it would have to be constructed over the current highway.

"If former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is remembered for the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge, I hope the current Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will be remembered for the JSD," said Maslan.

Additionally, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stated that the Prime Minister personally experienced severe traffic congestion on this highway during his recent trip in Feb. The issue was revisited in April, prompting the Public Works Department (JKR) and other agencies to conduct surveys on the section.

Chow delivered these remarks while presiding over the Urban Road Seminar @ Penang 2024 hosted by the Road Engineering Association Malaysia (REAM). In his speech, he cited the JSD as one of his main goals for Penang, alongside the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, which is set to begin construction by the end of the year.