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| The road shoulder along Jalan Paya Terubong that caved in after a downpour today |
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| Another view of the collapsed section of the road connecting Air Itam and Relau. |
Road users fear landslip that killed nine nearby may affect safety of route
GEORGE TOWN: The landslip along Jalan Paya Terubong near Majestic Heights apartments is causing worry among thousands of motorists using the route to work daily.
They are worried if the incident, which occurred after several hours of heavy rain, would pose a danger to them.
The motorists use this hillside road to get to Relau and Bayan Lepas from Ayer Itam and Paya Terubong.
The affected stretch goes past the Jalan Bukit Kukus highway construction site where a landslide on Oct 19 killed nine foreigners.
It is only a few hundred metres away from the tragic site.
State Works Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the state authorities would not close the road as the soil erosion did not pose any danger to road users.
“All motorists and motorcyclists can still use the road safely without concern.
“The hillside area where the soil erosion occurred was already undergoing repairs prior to the incident.
“The contractor in charge will continue to oversee and restore the affected hillside area,” he said.
Zairil said apart from the restoration project, Tenaga Nasional Bhd was also carrying out rewiring works nearby.
“For the time being, the rewiring works have been halted and all power supply has been cut,” he said.
State Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh advised Paya Terubong residents to avoid using the road if possible.
“Yes, we know how vital the road is especially for those who work in the Bayan Lepas factories,” he said.
Without this connection to Bayan Lepas, the residents of Paya Terubong and Ayer Itam will have to use Jalan Masjid Negeri to reach Bayan Lepas. This route takes longer and is time-consuming.
Jalan Masjid Negeri can see a bumper-to-bumper crawl during rush hour with motorists travelling from other parts of George Town to the island’s south.
George Town OCPD Asst Comm Che Zaimani Che Awang said the police were keeping the road under close observation.
Meanwhile, police have finished their investigation on the Jalan Bukit Kukus landslide and the report will be referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s office.
Penang police chief Comm Datuk Seri A. Thaiveegan said they submitted the report yesterday.
It was reported that police had recorded statements from almost 70 witnesses in its investigation on the landslide for criminal negligence.
Apart from the nine foreigners who were killed, four others also sustained injuries in the incident.- The Star
Related:
Residents fear closure of vital link - Nation
Road shoulder at Paya Terubong collapses after downpour ...
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