Penang’s PAN 1 project to go ahead amid environmental concerns

Malaysia’s Penang state has approved the PAN 1 Highway project but with conditions attached following an environmental impact study. Work could start next year on the 19.5km project – officially called the Pan Island Link 1 - that will likely cost around US$1.7 billion, according to a report in the newspaper Sundaily. The project will consist of 7.6km of viaducts, four tunnel sections totalling 10.1km in length and embankment sections totalling 1.8km. Penang Island, around 300km², is the main islan
April 17, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
Malaysia’s Penang state has approved the PAN 1 Highway project but with conditions attached following an environmental impact study.


Work could start next year on the 19.5km project – officially called the Pan Island Link 1 - that will likely cost around US$1.7 billion, according to a report in the newspaper Sundaily.

The project will consist of 7.6km of viaducts, four tunnel sections totalling 10.1km in length and embankment sections totalling 1.8km.

Penang Island, around 300km², is the main island of the state of Penang, located at the Malacca Strait, off the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The island is home to nearly half of Penang state's population, including the city of George Town with a population of more than 710,000. The historical centre of George Town has been a 1384 UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.

The project will consist of a six-lane highway to alleviate congestion on local roads across the island, including the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and surrounding arterial roads.
 
The Department of Environment approved PAN 1 but with 56 conditions attached, according to Chow Kon Yeow, chief minister of Penang state and who made the announcement.

However, some environmental groups expressed concern over the highway’s impact on the countryside, including any dangers to heritage sites.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Czech minister Tok warns Eurovia to speed up D1 bridge repairs
    January 8, 2015
    The Czech transport minister has given construction firm Eurovia until April to start repairs on two bridges it built or face having its bank guarantees withdrawn. Transport Minister Dan Tok, who until December was the chief executive of Skanska in the Czech Republic, said he would call for a new tender for the repairs if no action is taken by Eurovia, according to a report by the Czech internet news portal iDNES. Tok said that the road bridges constructed six years ago on the D1 motorway slip road in
    Read More
  • Completion of Prague’s outer ring-road Běchovice section for 2024
    July 24, 2019
    Completion of Prague’s outer ring-road connecting the D1 motorway with Běchovice town to the north should be in 2024, a year earlier than planned. Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš made the announcement, saying the 2025 date set by the Czech Highway Authority was too far off, according to local media. The national Czech News Agency reported that the 12.5km section will cost around €365 million. Transport minister Vladimíra Kremlík said that the state will have to acquire land from up to 500 land ow
    Read More
  • Bolivia’s new highway
    October 10, 2017
    Bolivia’s new highway will provide better access into mountain areas – Mauro Nogarin writes At the beginning of 2015, work began on the construction and paving for the Tupiza - Atocha - Uyuni highway project. The route is located in Bolivia’s Potosí department: it is 189m in length and forms part of the Southwest Basic Road Network (RVF) of Bolivia. The completion of this important route is requiring funding worth US$150 million, of which 72% is being delivered through loans from the European Investment
    Read More
  • Tunnels - an environmentally attractive option?
    February 21, 2012
    While tunnels are often more expensive than bridges, they can offer environmentally attractive options for transport schemes. Tunnels offer environmentally attractive options for a range of transport infrastructure schemes, but in many cases high construction costs may restrict their use.
    Read More

Highlighted Content