MELAKA – The RM300 million upgrading works on the congested Jalan Tun Hamzah are expected to begin in November.
The upgrading works include a change from a two-lane to a four-lane road spanning 4.5 kilometers and are expected to be completed within three years.
According to the State Public Works, Infrastructure, Public Amenities, and Transport Committee chairman, Datuk Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer, the construction will involve the route starting from the Department of Road Transport (JPJ) intersection to the Semabok Intersection along the Alor Gajah–Melaka Tengah–Jasin (AMJ) route.
“The design process has been completed, while the tender for construction will begin in May, with construction scheduled to start in November this year. The project is also expected to be completed within three years, with funding approved by the federal government through the Public Works Department,” he said.
Hameed said the road upgrading project is expected to resolve traffic congestion issues on Lebuh Ayer Keroh, particularly during peak hours, as well as reduce vehicle traffic in the city through the upgraded suburban route.
He said the project would also allow visitors from outside Melaka to take a detour into the Seri Negeri Intersection via the federal road to Semabok and then proceed to Banda Hilir.
He added that the Federal Government has approved a budget of RM50 million to construct a new 3.5 km road from Pekan Merlimau Utara to Kampung Merlimau Pasir (Batu Gajah), which is currently in the design phase.
Meanwhile, Hameed reported that the water levels at three main dams in Melaka have exceeded 90 percent so far, and the state is not expected to face water supply disruptions during Ramadan and Syawal, despite the current hot and dry weather.
“Should any supply issues arise, they are likely to be due to unforeseen disruptions, such as frequent pipe bursts, as the water pipes in the state are nearly 40 years old,” he said.
Hameed further explained that following close monitoring by Syarikat Air Melaka Berhad (SAMB), there are approximately 1,170 km of Asbestos Cement (A.C.) pipes that need to be replaced, as they are outdated and no longer suitable for use.
“However, this requires significant funding from the Federal Government. The state government is also taking steps through SAMB to replace pipes internally and secure limited funding from the federal government to address the ongoing issues with leaking and burst water pipes,” he said. – February 20, 2025