George town: The roads around Lebuh Pantai, Pesara King Edward, Weld Quay and Gat Lebuh Chulia here are set for a transformation over the next 16 months, turning them into climate-resilient, pedestrian-friendly corridors.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye stated that the high-impact project was being implemented under the Nature-Based Climate Adaptation Programme for Urban Areas of Penang Island (PNBCAP). The project aims to enhance urban greening, strengthen resilience to climate change, and support the development of liveable, inclusive, and sustainable cities, particularly in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Site of George Town, through the Nature-Based Solution (NbS) initiative.
H'ng explained that the main objective of this project is to achieve the outcomes under Component 1: Built Projects for Greening Penang, which include creating new tree-lined streets and connected canopies, developing pocket parks and utilizing vacant spaces, as well as constructing green parking areas. The RM24.7 million project is funded through allocations from the MBPP and the World Bank Adaptation Fund, with physical works having commenced by the appointed contractor on Sept 1 and expected to be fully completed by Dec 31, 2026.
One of the key components planned by MBPP is to improve traffic flow by converting Lebuh Pantai into a one-way system, aimed at easing congestion at the intersections of Lebuh Pantai, Lebuh Chulia, and Gat Lebuh Chulia. The one-way system is expected to allow for wider pedestrian walkways, safer crossings, and more attractive road landscapes, thereby contributing to a more human-friendly and inclusive city experience.
The project also emphasizes efforts to protect the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, in line with the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site Special Area Plan (RKK TWDGT), which was gazetted on Sept 1, 2016. H'ng noted that MBPP has agreed to remove the betel nut sculpture, installed around 2005 at the roundabout near Lebuh Pantai, after considering that it is not a heritage structure and holds no significant value within the context of the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site.
H'ng further mentioned that the area surrounding the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower would be restored and transformed into a landscaped space that integrates greening, heritage value, and public accessibility, without compromising the visual integrity of the landmark. The project will focus on green infrastructure, with pocket parks planned across the area to enhance greenery and pedestrian facilities.
Overall, the project reflects an integrated approach to urban development, combining adaptation to climate change, public mobility, green infrastructure, and heritage preservation, while also serving as a symbol of efforts to safeguard the identity of George Town.