PULAU PINANG 23 Jan. - Kerja-kerja pembinaan Jambatan Kedua Pulau Pinang yang menghubungkan Batu Kawan dan Batu Maung di sini akan dimulakan sepenuhnya selepas cuti Tahun Baru Cina, bulan depan.

Ketua Pasukan Khas Jambatan Kedua Pulau Pinang, Tan Sri Zaini Omar berkata, perkembangan projek itu ketika ini juga mengatasi jadual asal dan yakin ia akan dapat disiapkan sebagaimana dirancang pada tahun 2010.

Menurut beliau, kebanyakan kerja persediaan dan asas bagi pembinaan jambatan itu juga telah pun selesai mengikut jadual yang ditetapkan.

Lebuhraya KLP yang berharga RM1.4 billion dan sejauh 26km itu bermula dari Bulaatan Kampung Pandan di sini sehingga ke Putrajaya dan mula dibina pada 6 Disember 2004 serta siap sepenuhnya pada 5 Disember 2007.

KUALA LUMPUR ? Bayaran tol untuk pengguna Lebuhraya Kuala Lumpur Putrajaya (KLP) berkuatkuasa 12 tengah malam kelmarin.

KUALA LUMPUR: PLUS Expressway Bhd is gearing up for the holiday rush, setting up extra services to ensure that the 1.3 million motorists expected to hit the North-South Expressway daily will have a safe and smooth drive. 

PLUS managing director Noorizah Abdul Hamid said one of the additional services is a travel advisory system through short messaging.

PlusMA will be in operation from tomorrow to Feb 11. For 30 sen per SMS, road users can get information on traffic conditions en route to their destinations. 

PAYMENT for projects undertaken by Public Works Department will be disbursed directly to sub-contractors, without going through the main contractors.

The Decision was made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during a Cabinet meeting recently Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said yesterday.

He said Abdullah, who is also finance minister, made the decision after considering complaints from sub- contractors who did no receive payment from the main contractors for completed projects.

SUNGAI BULUH Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri S. SamyVellu semalam mengumumkan motosikal dilarang melalui lebuh raya di tiga lokasi utama negara iaitu Putrajaya, Cyberajaya dan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA).

"Ia berikutan lebuh raya tersebut terdiri daripada laluan jambatan kerana ia melalui kawasan yang pesat membangun seperti kilang, bangunan dan rumah-rumah. Oleh yang demikian, ruang yang ada untuk pembinaan lebuh raya adalah terhad.

JOHOR BAHRU: Pembinaan Jambatan Kedua Permas Jaya dan jalan ke Pasir Gudang yang akan memudahkan jaringan perhubungan ke Pasir Gudang, bakal merancakkan kedatangan pelaburan ke Johor menerusi Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (WPI). 

Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu, berkata projek bernilai RM175 juta dan dijangka siap dalam tempoh 36 bulan, akan menjadi pemangkin kepada kemudahan infrastruktur serta memberi keselesaan kepada pengguna jalan raya dan pembangunan sekitar Permas Jaya ke Pasir Gudang. 

JOHOR BARU: Contractors appointed by the Works Ministry will have to come up with comprehensive plans on managing traffic during the construction period. 

Experts in traffic management would be needed to ensure proper plans were submitted to the ministry for approval, Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said. 

"Contractors just cannot put up a few cones and walk away. At night, without proper lights, accidents can happen," he said, adding that the requirement would be implemented nationwide. 

JOHOR BARU: The new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) will be opened to light vehicles from May. 

Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said heavy vehicles would only be able to use the complex at the end of next year once an access road known as the Medium-Term Link (MTL) was completed. 

"So, until next year, heavy vehicles can still use the Tanjung Puteri Customs Complex," he said, adding that his ministry and the Finance Ministry were finalising the price of the MTL which was submitted by the contractors. 

RETURNING home from Ipoh on Feb 8, I stoped at the PLUS Tapah rest area. It was not only tidy but had excellent toilet facilities. It was like a hotel, as far as its cleanliness was concerned. If there is a national certificate for cleanliness, it should go to PLUS.

IPOH: The works Ministry will submit its list of projects to be completed to the Economic Planning Unit ( EPU) next week for the midterm review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).

Minister Datuk Seri S Vellu said priority would be given to projects which had already received the letter of acceptance.

"Besides that, other projects include those already approved by the Cabinet which support or complement all the development regions like the Northern Corridor," he said.