Does Penang need another bridge now?
Published on: Wednesday, June 01, 2016
GEORGE TOWN: Despite already having two bridges connecting Penang Island and Seberang Perai, the DAP-led State government is pushing for a third bridge, and now waiting for the federal government's approval to build it. The state government's initial proposal was to build an undersea tunnel linking Gurney Drive and Bagan Ajam on the mainland with three main expressways with an estimated cost of RM6.341 billion. With the undersea tunnel receiving a lot of 'not so good' feedback from the public, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng then proposed to replace it with a third bridge and challenged the federal government to approve the project as he planned to make it toll-free.
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With the population in Penang Island and Seberang Perai at about 1.6 million people, experts questioned the necessity for a third bridge.A former lecturer in town and regional planning at the School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Associate Professor Dr Hassim Mat said roads on Penang Island were already very congested, especially during peak hours, and that traffic policemen had to be stationed at various locations to ease traffic flow.He said the third bridge would only bring in more vehicles to Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi, Pulau Tikus and Gurney Drive, and thus cause more congestion."Why bring more traffic to the already congested roads on Penang Island. A more logical move is to resolve the problems of traffic congestion here first.
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"I am not against the (proposed) plan but as of now, I do not think another bridge will help to ease the traffic situation in Penang Island, but it will only worsen traffic congestion on the island as there will be an increase in the number of vehicles on the road," he told Bernama in an exclusive interview.Hassim said what Penang needed was a proper urban planning and traffic management system, not a third bridge that would result in more traffic chaos.
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Penang's second bridge, Jambatan Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah (JSAHMS), was opened in 2014 and reported to be under-utilised, recording an average of only 14,300 vehicles daily.Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) acting Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer Mohd Ashari Alias said the target set by the company was a daily average of 25,000 vehicles after five years of operation.He said the number of vehicles using JSAHMS would be lesser if another bridge was to be build to link Penang.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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