Water puddles on road shoulder a potential hazard to road users

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STAGNANT water pooling at the sides of Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway is giving road users a wet and potentially dangerous ride especially along the Bayan Lepas stretch of the 17.84km expressway.

Two state assemblymen said they had received complaints from motorcyclists and motorists about water splashing on their vehicles, thus affecting visibility on the road.

Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin and Batu Maung assemblyman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim are alleging that the 17.84km long expressway which connects George Town to Batu Maung is now a hazard for motorists, especially those plying the Bayan Lepas stretch (near the turning into the Phase 4 industrial area), heading towards the city.

Edge of danger: A motorcyclist sandwiched between moving cars and a puddle on Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway

The assemblymen visited a section of the expressway yesterday together with Penang Public Works, Utilities and Transportation Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng who pointed out that the shoulder of the expressway is higher than the road, causing water to accumulate.

“The absence of scupper drains also contributes to water accumulating on the sides of the expressway due to the uneven surface of the expressway.

“There should be such drains for the water to flow out and not be accumulated on the sides of the road,” said.

Lim said the committee had written to the Works Ministry over the matter a few months ago and was still awaiting a response.

“For the past one month, we’ve been trying to get them to meet with us but so far there is no word from them,” he claimed.

A drain along the expressway hardly big enough to drain water to the sea in the background

Lim also said the Public Works Department had been notified to look into the matter.

He explained that the state government was in charge of some 1,300km of roads in the state while the Federal Government took care of a 208km stretch of roads in the state, including the expressway.

He said the contract to maintain the roads was awarded to a company, which also takes care of expressways in Perlis and Kedah.