The Penang Mutiara Line light rail transit (LRT) project has reached a new construction milestone with the segmental box girder (SBG) casting yard in Sungai Ular, Kulim now about 90 per cent complete. The facility will manufacture the concrete segments used to build the elevated guideway for the system. According to Bernama, state leaders say the progress signals growing momentum as Penang advances its first LRT network, with construction activities expanding across multiple work packages.
Segmental box girder facility central to elevated guideway construction
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the 15.378-hectare facility will play a central role in producing the structural components required for the LRT’s elevated track. The yard will manufacture the precast concrete SBG segments that form the main structure of the guideway.
Works at the site began in April 2025 and the facility is expected to be fully completed by May 2026. The casting yard will supply segments for the Civil Main Contractor 1 (CMC1) package, which covers a 23.7-kilometre alignment linking Silicon Island to Komtar.
Large-scale segment production planned for guideway spans
SRS LRT project director Adil Putra Ahmad said the yard will produce about 8,800 SBG segments for the CMC1 section. At peak operations, the facility is expected to manufacture up to 350 segments each month.
The yard will operate with approximately 400 personnel and 20 mould sets. The first segment has already been successfully cast, marking the start of production for the elevated guideway structure.
Each guideway span will measure roughly 40 metres and consist of 13 individual segments assembled on site. Piling and pier construction are currently underway, with the first spans expected to be launched between July and August in locations such as Bandar Seri Pinang.
Segmental construction method designed for urban environments
The project uses a segmental construction method, which allows precast components to be produced off-site and then installed along the alignment. This approach can improve construction efficiency while reducing disruption at street level and enhancing safety in densely populated areas.
Such approaches are increasingly aligned with broader efforts to modernise infrastructure delivery, including initiatives highlighted in Malaysia’s digital platforms for smart construction, which aim to improve coordination, transparency and efficiency in large-scale projects.
Traffic management and long-term transport planning
The Chief Minister noted that launching SBG spans in busy urban areas will typically take place at night to minimise disruption to traffic. However, he advised that traffic management plans may need to be adjusted as construction activity intensifies along the alignment.
The Mutiara Line LRT is a central element of Penang’s long-term urban mobility planning and reflects wider national priorities outlined in Malaysia’s digital and sustainable transport strategy. With construction progressing across key components, the state government maintains that the system remains on track for its targeted start of operations in 2031.
