GEORGE TOWN: About RM1.7 million is needed to fix the slope at Jalan Persekutuan (FT006) at kilometer 28.75, Jalan Bayan Lepas-Balik Pulau route which collapsed on Oct 23.
Only one lane of the two-way road is open for light vehicles to make way for the earth clearing and slope repair works.
State Public Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said that the incident happened at 5.46pm where a part of the slope was 25 metres long and 15 metres deep.
He said that Public Works Department (PWD) and other relevant agencies had checked safety aspects at the area a day after the incident.
“A report has also been made and the estimated funds needed will be submitted to the Finance Minister as soon as possible as this is an emergency case.
“Till today we are waiting for the application letter from PWD to the ministry and hope to resolve the matter soon,” he said when visiting the collapsed slope area with the southwest district engineer Samsulnizam Zulkafli today.
Meanwhile Balik Pulau DAP chairman David Nah said the incident had impacted the locals’ business and routine.
He said petrol tank lorries which were unable to use the route to Balik Pulau had resulted in two of the three petrol stations to suffer shortage in supply.
The stations had to be closed for four days and wait for smaller lorries to carry the supply.
“There are small and medium entrepreneurs who were not able to send their supply out of Balik Pulau and intra-city factory buses could also not drive in here.
“We hope that this can be fixed the soonest with assurance of safety in using the road for the public,” he said.
Currently there are three main routes connecting Balik Pulau with George Town apart from the Jalan Bayan Lepas- Balik Pulau road where the slope collapsed last month.
Two of the routes are the narrow Teluk Bahang-Balik Pulau road and the steep Jalan Tun Sardon-Balik Pulau which might not be suitable for heavy vehicles.