Penang motorists are set to encounter more lane closures and traffic diversions as construction of the Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line moves ahead, with restrictions already in place along several major roads.

The longest-running restriction is on the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, where the rightmost lane in both directions between Gat Lebuh Cecil and Gat Lebuh Noordin will be closed 24 hours a day from October 1, 2026 until August 31, 2029.

The closure, which will last 1,065 days, is to facilitate preliminary LRT works including piling and related construction activities. The rightmost lane at the Gat Lebuh Cecil junction, including the right-turn lane into Gat Lebuh Cecil, will also be affected.

Other lanes will remain open, while an alternative lane is available for motorists turning right into Gat Lebuh Cecil.

Other roads affected

On Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, intermittent partial lane closures will take place from October 1 to November 15, between 10pm and 5am daily, for tree-felling works.

The affected sections are the leftmost lane between the Jalan Sungai Dua intersection and the USM Padang heading towards KOMTAR, the leftmost lane between Batu Uban Army Camp and Sunny Point heading towards Bayan Lepas, and the rightmost lane between Batu Uban Army Camp and the traffic-light intersection in both directions.

Other lanes will remain open.

A separate traffic diversion on another section of Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, near the Acre Work construction area towards the junction leading to the Penang Airport Taxi Limousine Service, has been in effect since September 12 and is scheduled to continue until July 31, 2027.

The 322-day diversion is needed for piling and permanent structural works in the road median.

Meanwhile, the leftmost lane of Jalan Magazine, in front of St Giles Wembley Hotel heading towards KOMTAR, is being closed for road widening and utility relocation works.

The restriction began at 10pm on September 14 and is scheduled to end at 5am on October 5, with the other lanes remaining open.

MRT Corp has also listed traffic restrictions for LRT works along Jalan Tengah, Jalan Tun Dr Awang, Jalan Haji Ahmad and Jalan Permatang Damar Laut, among other sections of the Mutiara Line alignment.

MBPP sets limits on construction hours

With more road works expected as the project progresses, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is also putting limits on when construction can take place and how much road space can be occupied.

MBPP mayor Dato’ Ir. A. Rajendran said road cutting, utility installation and LRT-related works on major roads generally have to begin after 10pm.

At locations with particularly heavy traffic, contractors may only begin after 11pm.

The works are also required to be completed by early morning so affected roads can reopen before traffic volumes increase.

For residential areas, night works are generally restricted, with construction instead permitted during the morning and afternoon.

Rajendran said MBPP is also specifying the number of lanes that can be closed and the duration of closures for individual projects.

Why the work is being shifted to night

The restrictions are intended to reduce the impact on motorists during busier periods.

Road cutting, utility relocation and other construction activities can require lanes to be taken out of service. Carrying out some of these works at night allows contractors to use the road space when traffic volumes are lower.

The different working hours also reflect the fact that not every road has the same traffic conditions. A busy route may require a later start than a road with lower traffic volumes.

But shifting work to the night does not remove the disruption entirely.

Motorists may face temporary lane closures and diversions, while residents and businesses near construction sites could experience noise, lighting and construction activity later at night.

This is also why MBPP's restrictions on residential areas form part of the wider traffic-management approach.

How long will the disruption last?

The current traffic arrangements show that the impact of LRT construction will vary significantly from one location to another.

Some restrictions last only several weeks. Others, such as the Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah diversion, will remain for months.

The closure along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway is expected to remain for almost three years.

That makes the duration of individual works an important part of how motorists experience the project.

For road users, knowing where a lane will be closed, when the restriction applies and how long it is expected to remain can make a significant difference to daily travel.

Penang's LRT is a major infrastructure project that will require construction within an already busy road network.

Some disruption is therefore expected while the system is being built.

For now, the focus is on keeping that disruption manageable by limiting working hours, controlling lane closures and ensuring roads can be reopened when traffic volumes rise.

The LRT is being built to change how Penang moves in the long term. In the meantime, the challenge is keeping the existing road network moving while that transformation takes place.