The Penang Second Bridge E 22 is a new bridge under construction in Penang, Malaysia. It will connect Batu Kawan on the mainland Seberang Perai and Batu Maung on Penang Island. It will be the second bridge to link the island to the mainland after Penang Bridge. The total length of the RM 3 billion bridge is 24 km (15 miles) and will become the longest bridge in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC) expects to start work on the second Penang bridge in November 2007 for completion in 2011. The bridge will be built with a large loan from the People's Republic of China. [1]
Overview
The planned bridge will be a four-lane dual carriageway bridge with two motorcycle lanes. Its total length is 24 km (15 miles). 17 km (10 miles) of the bridge will be across the South Channel, the channel between Penang Island and Seberang Perai. 1.5 km (1 miles) will be on the Batu Maung side, while 6 km (3 miles) will be on the Batu Kawan side. Six expressway interchanges will also be constructed as part of this project. K. Preamakanthan of UEM Construction Sdn Bhd is the project director responsible for this project.
It will have two observation platforms with rest and service areas at the central span. They are designed to resemble pearls. The rest area will be the first "floating" expressway rest area in Malaysia.
History
In August 2006, the Malaysian federal government unveiled a plan to build the Penang Second Bridge in the Ninth Malaysia Plan. In 12 November 2006, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Penang Second Bridge was performed by Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
After months of soil survey work and test pilling work has been done, China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd and United Engineers Malaysia Berhad (UEM Group) announce that the project is on track for completion in 2011. Construction works was expected to begin in January 2008. [2]
On April 2008, the government announced that the project will be delayed by 9 months due to land acquisition and design issue and also the rising costs of building materials[3]. Newly elected Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng proposed a toll discount for any delays on the project[4] and also express disappointment of the delay of the consturction[5].
On July 2008, Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi reported that the loan for the bridge risked being withdrawn if the shareholder agreement between UEM Builders Bhd and its joint-venture partner China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd is not inked by August 2008. It has been reported that there have been disagreements between the two parties on the apportionment of the cost of building the bridge although the issue should be resolved soon due to UEM having a variation on the price on its portion.[6]
List of Interchanges
Batu Kawan Expressway side
Bridge side
| Km |
Exit |
Interchange |
To |
Remarks |
|
EXIT 2202 |
BATU KAWAN INTERCHANGE |
P-- Batu Kawan
Batu Kawan Sports Complex |
Interchange |
Batu Kawan-Penang Second Bridge toll plaza
(Enter bridge only) |
|
|
P Batu Kawan-Penang Second Bridge toll plaza |
|
Enter bridge only |
|
|
R&R Batu Kawan Rest and Service Area |
 |
East bound |
|
|
R&R Batu Kawan Rest and Service Area |
|
West bound |
|
|
Penang Second Bridge
24 kilometres |
|
Start/End of bridge |
|
|
Penang Second Bridge
R&R V Viewing Platform and Rest and Service Area |
V
Viewing Platform
Rest and Service Area
U-Turn |
Central span
Both bound |
|
|
Penang Second Bridge
24 kilometres |
|
Start/End of bridge |
|
EXIT 2203 |
TELUK TEMPOYAK INTERCHANGE |
P10 Batu Maung
P222 Teluk Tempoyak |
Elevated On/Off ramp interchange
From/To Penang Second Bridge only |
 E 22 PENANG SECOND BRIDGE |
| E 22 BATU MAUNG EXPRESSWAY |
|
EXIT 2204 |
BATU MAUNG INTERCHANGE |
E 22 BATU MAUNG EXPRESSWAY
NORTH
1331 George Town
P10 Batu Maung
SOUTH
P10 Bayan Lepas
6 Penang International Airport  |
Elevated directional-Y interchange |
Batu Maung Expressway side
External links
See also
References
- ^ http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2007/07/13/afx3910526 Newspaper article regarding Chinese loan
- ^ Work on second Penang bridge begins
- ^ "Construction of Second Penang Bridge delayed", New Straits Times.
- ^ CHRISTINA CHIN and TAN SIN CHOW. "Discount 'punishment' for Second Penang Bridge delay", The Star.
- ^ ANDREA FILMER. "Penang CM disappointed over bridge delay", The Star.
- ^ Pauline Puah (2008-07-09). "Second Penang Bridge loan risks being withdrawn", The Edge. Retrieved on 2008-08-11.
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