The reclamation project at Jelutong Landfill isn’t just about land—it’s about turning Karpal Singh Drive into a choked artery of congestion for at least 24 years, and beyond. With an influx of construction vehicles and an eventual population boom, our roads won’t stand a chance.
The PLB EIA Report projects peak-hour traffic to skyrocket to 1,246 pcu/hr in the morning and 1,572 pcu/hr in the evening, with an unrealistic assumptions of 40% public transport usage. Add an increased population of 93,578 residents (Page 7.3), and you’ve got a recipe for gridlock that’ll snarl traffic and fray nerves.
Excavation, recycling, reclamation and construction will see lorries moving massive volumes of materials. This constant flow of heavy vehicles will clog roads, disrupt commutes, and heighten safety risks for residents and drivers alike.
Here’s what this means for you:
Expect delays as construction vehicles dominate the roads, turning quick trips into frustrating marathons.
Increased traffic volume and heavy machinery raise the risk of accidents, especially near residential zones.
Businesses could suffer as customers avoid the area, and property values may dip in a traffic-choked neighborhood.
The EIA offers no real solutions—just vague promises of monitoring. With a 4-year reclamation phase and 20-year development timeline, this traffic chaos isn’t temporary; it’s a generation-long burden.
The proposed reclamation will add population by 91,714 (page 7.3). Yet, the proposed future traffic mitigation plan relies on unrealistic assumptions — 40% public transport usage (PLB – EIA Report, Table 5.6)—a fantasy in a car-dependent Penang! This delusion guarantees clog roads, making Karpal Singh Drive less livable.
Source: PLB – EIA Report, Chapter 5, 7
We deserve roads that work for us, not against us. This project threatens to trap us in our own community—don’t let it happen.