Juru: The Juru-Sungai Dua Traffic Dispersal Project (PTJSD) continues to record positive progress when Package 1 of the project reached 28.75 per cent of overall progress as of July 12 and remains on schedule.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) announced that among the major achievements of the project are that the preliminary works have been fully completed, while the utility relocation work has reached 70 per cent and the geotechnical work has recorded 68 per cent progress.

'Package 1 involves the upgrading of the East-West Roundabout, improvements to the traffic light system at the roundabout to ease traffic flow and the construction of a new elevated slip road at Jalan Tun Hussein Onn,' it said in a Facebook post.

PLUS announced that when completed in October 2027, PTJSD will help improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, strengthen safety aspects and provide a more comfortable travel experience for highway users and local residents.

The 17.3-kilometre project, spanning three main districts, namely South, Central and North Seberang Perai, will benefit 200,000 daily users of the route.

The PTJSD, estimated to cost RM3 billion, is expected to reduce traffic congestion with 30 per cent of the traffic moving to the new direct Juru-Sungai Dua route, which will reduce the current travel time from one hour to just 20 minutes during peak hours.

It is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and the Malaysian Highways Authority to address the issue of traffic congestion on the Juru-Sungai Dua corridor, which is the main route connecting Penang with the states in northern peninsula.