{
  "id": 16280506,
  "title": "Chow eyes April 2027 completion for Air Itam-LCE bypass",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/chow-eyes-april-2027-completion-for-air-itam-lce-bypass",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-24T04:02:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/24/chow-eyes-april-2027-completion-for-air-itam-lce-bypass"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Penang's chief minister Chow Kon Yeow is confident that the Air Itam-Lim Chong Eu Expressway (LCE) bypass will be finished by April 2027. The RM851 million project, led by contractor Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC), is currently 93.19% complete.\n\nChow visited the project site in Gelugor and mentioned that main works like bridge constructions and viaducts have been completed. The focus now is on following-up tasks such as installing road barriers and paving, which will start next month.\n\nBefore opening the bypass to the public, it must pass a technical compliance inspection and road safety audit to meet all standards and safety requirements. Chow also assured that the state government won't face a funding shortage. CZC will cover the remaining RM50 million cost, and the government will transfer ownership of several Gurney Bay land lots to the firm.\n\nThe 5.7km bypass is the first project under Penang's Transport Master Plan, linking Air Itam and Farlim directly to the LCE. It aims to cut travel time and reduce congestion on Green Lane and Jalan Masjid Negeri. Initially planned for 2025, the project was delayed to April 2027.",
  "summary": "Consortium Zenith Construction will cover the remaining RM50 million needed to complete the project and get ownership of several Gurney Bay land lots in return.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}