Latest news with #roadwidening
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Why feed the ‘road monster', Penang resident asks, as underpass project begins
Charles Lawrence Byrne and wife Bernadine Wong had 186 sq m of their land acquired for development and will see a road run just two metres from their porch. GEORGE TOWN : Charles Lawrence Byrne has lived in his Mount Erskine Road home for nearly 74 years. At 89, he's the last of his family left in the area – and he's not going anywhere. His house, built by his late father in 1950, now sits in the path of a Penang state road-widening and underpass project. The government has acquired 186 sq m (2,000 sq ft) of his land for the development, with a road set to run just two metres from his porch. However, his house and part of his land remains untouched. Although the court increased the compensation offered for the acquired portion, Byrne insists that private valuers have valued his property even higher. Byrne said he has not touched a single sen of the compensation money. 'I want peace and tranquillity. I can still live on my pension and I want to continue staying here with my wife Bernardine Wong. I'm not interested in your money. You can take it back,' the former postal and broadcast department staff said. 'They're cutting my land diagonally. My garden will be gone.' Charles Lawrence Byrne says road-widening efforts has failed to ease traffic in the area. Long fight against the 'Road Monster' Byrne said years of road-widening efforts had failed to ease traffic in the area. He believes poor traffic light timing and bottlenecks elsewhere are the real causes of congestion – not Mount Erskine Road. 'It was two lanes, then four, now six. But there are still traffic jams… So what's the point?' he asked. 'You're just feeding the road monster.' He added: 'They're building flyovers and underpasses all over, but the real traffic issues are somewhere else.' Beyond the practical concerns, Byrne said his home and land held deep spiritual value. He said the grounds had hosted religious services led by priests and even a bishop. 'This is my father's land, and it's blessed land. I'm just its guardian,' he said. 'I've told the council: I don't want compensation. I want my land.' Lack of transparency Despite his land already being acquired and compensation paid, Byrne said he had not received any formal plans or construction timelines from the authorities. 'Nobody has come to explain what happens next,' he said, adding that there were rumours the road would link Mount Erskine to Gottlieb Road, cutting through school lands and the St Nicholas Home for the Blind. He worries about noise and sound barriers erected ahead of the construction, and access to his house once the project kicks off. Charles Lawrence Byrne is resigned to losing the garden of the home he has lived in for 74 years to road-widening. State says project is essential Penang infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari defended the project, saying it was crucial to reduce congestion in the area. Zairil said compensation followed federal property valuations, and affected landowners were free to seek higher payouts in court. 'The road is currently a bottleneck. Once completed, traffic will be much smoother,' he said. 'If there was a better way, we would have done it. Do you think we like cutting people's land?' The Mount Erskine underpass is part of Penang's broader effort to tackle island-wide traffic. The state is seeking RM3.75 million from Putrajaya to start the RM25 million project next year. It is one of 128 infrastructure proposals under the 13th Malaysia Plan, with RM2.1 billion requested for 2026.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Thousands back bid to protect historic High Halstow oak trees
A councillor says he is battling to save five oak trees in Kent which he believes could be felled if road-widening works go Michael Pearce, from Medway Council, wants protection orders for the trees, in Christmas Lane, on the Hoo Peninsula, near High Pearce said plans by Redrow Homes to widen a road as part of a new housing development would see the trees cut down.A spokesperson for Redrow called information in the petition "misleading", and said it would review all comments on the planning application and make any necessary changes once the consultation period has ended. Redrow recently submitted new documents detailing its plans to widen the road as part of its planning application for 760 Pearce's petition for tree protection orders was launched on 13 May and has already gained more than 2,700 signatures, the Local Democracy Reporting Service petition also wants Redrow to adapt its designs and put in a cycle path and footpath in Christmas Lane instead of their current proposals for road of the trees which Mr Pearce wants to protect are not within the boundaries of the planning application area, but he says Redrow's proposals for widening Christmas Lane could still threaten the trees."Five majestic and magnificent oak trees in High Halstow are under threat from being felled," he said."It's within Medway Council's power to stop this environmental vandalism and to protect wildlife and our local landscape." 'Carefully assessing' A spokesperson for Redrow said it would be unable to remove any of the trees without permission from the said: "The information in the petition is largely misleading."We would not remove any trees without the approval of Medway Council, who would also be responsible for any tree protection orders."We will continue to work with Medway Council on our planning application, reviewing all comments and making any updates, following the consultation period."A spokesperson for Medway Council said the the authority was "carefully assessing" the planning application before recommending to the planning committee that the proposals are approved or are able to give their thoughts on the plans until 7 June.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Groundbreaking set for Farrington Highway widening project
HONOLULU (KHON2) — State transportation officials are set to break ground Friday on a long-anticipated project to widen a busy stretch of Farrington Highway in West Oahu. Hawaii reaches landmark settlement with big pharma The Hawaii Department of Transportation will begin work on the three-mile project, which runs from Kapolei Golf Course Road near the University of Hawaii – West Oahu to Old Fort Weaver Road.A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m., with state officials expected to highlight how the improvements will ease congestion and support the growing community. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The project is part of a broader effort to improve traffic flow and road safety in one of Oahu's fastest-growing regions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
