KUALA LUMPUR: Penang Bridge will be closed to heavy vehicles except during specific timeframes from Aug 15 to September next year, Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said yesterday.

He told a press conference that heavy vehicles will only be allowed on the bridge from 6.30am to 8.30am and from 5pm to 7pm daily to facilitate ongoing upgrading works to improve traffic flow on the bridge.

He said exceptions to the timeframes could be made under certain circumstances.

"We have delegated power to the director of the Highway Authority, northern region, to make exceptions for businesses affected, and if there is a need to get an exception, one can appeal to the director of Highway Operations for the northern region," Mohd Zin said.

"We predict that the upgrading works on Penang Bridge to improve it to its optimal capacity of 150,000 vehicles will be achieved in September 2009."

On another matter, he said the ministry will allow for variation of price (VOP) clauses in contracts given to private contractors to relieve the burden of increased costs in building materials.

"The ministry has examined every problem, complaint and request by contractors, and we have brought them to the attention of the Ministry of Finance."

Mohd Zin said he had received complaints from over 800 contractors over the rising cost of building materials in a meeting on July 4.

"In calculating VOP, we have expanded the list from the 15 items initially allowed, which included iron and cement, to include building materials such as diesel, fuel, premix, sand and water pipes, among other," said Nohd Zin, who went on to say the government would be expanding the VOP to other essential materials an projects.

"The government will pay the VOP for steel used in projects begun after Jan 1 this year. While for mechanical and electrical works, the VOP has been expanded to include copper and iron, and this came into force on Jan 1," he said.