TRAFFIC jams in the Air Itam area on Penang island will be reduced significantly once the RM13.65mil road upgrading project is completed by June next year.

The project involves a new connection linking Jalan Zoo off Jalan Air Itam and Jalan Zoo in Kampung Pisang.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said traffic flow in the area is expected to improve by 15% once the two Jalan Zoo stretches are connected.

“The connection of the road will benefit some 20,000 road users,” he said during the launching of the Jalan Zoo upgrading works in Air Itam on Sunday.

The project comprises upgrading the 769-metre stretch from Jalan Zoo off Jalan Air Itam that includes building a bridge to link with its namesake in Kampung Pisang.

Jalan Zoo is divided into three unconnected parts — Jalan Zoo off Jalan Air Itam, Jalan Zoo in Kampung Pisang and Jalan Zoo in Bandar Baru Air Itam.

It was earlier reported that those staying in Jalan Air Itam, Reservoir Garden and the nearby areas can be easily connected to Kampung Pisang and they can also use the Air Itam bypass to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, and vice-versa with this connection.

“Road users no longer need to use the longer route to reach the bypass if the two parts of Jalan Zoo are connected,” he said.

On a separate matter, Lim said the state would appeal to the Federal Government to expedite approval for the expansion of the Penang International Airport (PIA) so that its capacity of 6.5 million people could be increased to 10 million people a year.

“The answer I’ve received from the Transport Ministry is that it will appeal for this project next year.

“PIA has already reached its Year 2020 targeted capacity of 6.5 million people now,” he said.