by Theleaders | September 22, 2025 12:36 pm
GEORGE TOWN, Sept 22 — Repair works on a burst sewage pipe that caused a sinkhole in Burmah Road is expected to take five days to complete, according to the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran.
Repair works will be conducted in stages to reduce traffic congestion in the area, he said.
The sinkhole, located just after the junction between Penang Road and Burmah Road, was detected on Saturday morning and the section of the road was closed to traffic since.
Rajendran said Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) together with MBPP has decided that repair works will be conducted at night so that it will remain open to traffic during the day.
“If repair works are conducted throughout the day, only one lane will be open and this will cause serious traffic congestion especially along Penang Road to Macalister Road,” he said when visiting the site today.
He said if repair works are conducted at night, both lanes of the road will remain open although it will still cause slight congestion along the road due to the sinkhole.
He also explained that although the actual road closure involved an area of about 20 metres, the resulting congestion could stretch up to 200 metres.
The sinkhole was caused by a burst high pressure IWK pipe that was the main sewage pipeline in the area.
According to Rajendran, the burst pipe measured about 53 cm in diameter with a total length of 13 metre.
“The leakage was detected on Saturday morning and it was immediately reported to IWK,” he said.
He said initial inspection revealed severe damage to the pipe so IWK will be replacing the entire 13m pipe.
He said it took two days to detect the problem before IWK decided on replacing the whole pipe.
He added that the cost of the project is yet to be finalised as it depends on the repair works.
“Although the initial estimate was for the work to be completed within five days, we have asked IWK to speed up the repair works as it negatively impact residents and local businesses in the area,” he said.
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