{
  "id": 14665963,
  "title": "RM33mil Penang underpass to use tunnelling to ease traffic disruption",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/rm33mil-penang-underpass-to-use-tunnelling-to-ease-traffic-disruption",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T09:19:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/15/rm33mil-penang-underpass-to-use-tunnelling-to-ease-traffic-disruption"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Penang government has modified its plans for the RM33 million Mount Erskine underpass project in KUALA LUMPUR, opting to employ tunneling techniques to prevent the disruption of a busy road during construction. This decision was made by Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Aiman Athirah Sabu, who explained that the previous design required major road closures, which could exacerbate traffic issues. The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has already completed the land acquisition process and engaged consultants to draft the plans. Initially, the project's cost was reported at RM25 million, but it was raised to RM33 million following a meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in March of the previous year. Although the federal government had initially approved RM5 million for preliminary work in 2023, it increased this to the full amount in June after the project was completed ahead of schedule. The technical preparation phase, crucial for ensuring safety and quality, is currently underway. The design of the tunnel is set to be finalized by December, followed by a tender process commencing in February 2027, with the contractor's selection expected in June. The tunnel is anticipated to be 780 meters long and 8 meters wide, and the underpass is projected to be completed by November 2030. This new approach is intended to alleviate chronic traffic congestion rather than offer a permanent solution, as Penang has not requested the federal government to construct or upgrade roads along the northern coast, particularly between Tanjung Tokong and Teluk Bahang.",
  "summary": "Deputy minister Aiman Athirah Sabu says the Mount Erskine project is expected to be completed by November 2030.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "RM33mil Penang underpass to use tunnelling to ease traffic disruption",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/rm33mil-penang-underpass-to-use-tunnelling-to-ease-traffic-disruption-14672690",
        "published": "2026-10-15T09:19:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}