Penang's RM33m Mount Erskine underpass set for November 2030 completion

Penang's RM33 million Mount Erskine underpass is targeted for completion in November 2030, with design work expected to finish by December 2026 and tendering to begin in February 2027. The revised tunnelling approach aims to reduce traffic disruption during construction.

PETALING JAYA (Oct 16): Penang's RM33 million Mount Erskine underpass is targeted for completion in November 2030, with a revised tunnelling approach intended to reduce traffic disruption during construction.

Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said the design was expected to be completed by December 2026. Tendering is scheduled to begin in February 2027 and close by end-March. The contractor is expected to be appointed in June 2027 and take possession of the site the following month. She said the proposed tunnel would measure approximately 780m long and 8m wide.

Speaking during a Dewan Rakyat special chamber session on Oct 15, Aiman Athirah said the earlier construction approach would have required major road closures affecting motorists using Jalan Mount Erskine, Jalan Gottlieb, Jalan Burma and Jalan Bagan Jermal. She said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), which is overseeing the project, had completed the land acquisition process and appointed consultants to prepare the design.

Aiman Athirah was responding to Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid, who asked whether construction would begin by end-2026, as previously expected, and sought a clear implementation timetable. The deputy minister maintained that the project had not been delayed and remained in the technical preparation phase to ensure construction safety and quality.

She said the federal government had initially approved RM5 million for preliminary work in 2026 before approving the full RM33 million on June 9, after MBPP completed the preliminary work ahead of schedule.

The underpass is intended to connect Jalan Mount Erskine and Jalan Burma. In an August 2025 report by the Penang government's Buletin Mutiara, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow described the project as an initiative to ease congestion affecting the Tanjung Tokong and Tanjung Bungah corridor. Chow said road infrastructure upgrades and public transport improvements needed to proceed together to address traffic congestion.