Traffic Congestion - Second Pg Bridge

GEORGE TOWN: After the excitement of greeting the opening of the RM4.5 billion second Penang bridge, the people are bracing themselves for traffic congestions at locations near the bridge.

The authorities have admitted that traffic jams could be expected near both ends of the new bridge -- Batu Kawan on the mainland and Batu Maung on the island – until the four traffic dispersal projects were completed.

Bridge concessionaire Jambatan Kedua Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd’s (JKPP) managing director Datuk Dr Ismail Mohamed Taib said the areas adjacent to the bridge would be congested, a sentiment echoed by state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow.

It is learnt that the four main projects to disperse traffic from the bridge have yet to be completed, with one said to be some 30 months away from completion.

It certainly looks like things will get hotter Penangites, who are already grappling with seafront pollution, forest fires atop Penang Hill and the scorching weather.

The three uncompleted projects on the island are the upgrading of Jalan Permatang Damar Laut, an elevated highway from the bridge along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu expressway to the Queensbay Mall area, and the widening of roads from Bayan Lepas to Teluk Kumbar.

There is also an uncompleted road project near Bandar Cassia in Batu Kawan which leads to the bridge.

The traffic dispersal project at Permatang Damar Laut includes a flyover and a roundabout at the SouthBay residential township. This project is only slated to be completed next year.

The elevated highway from the bridge to the expressway, ending at the Queensbay Mall, is yet to take off.

This too may only be done by next year as the public works department is sorting out a technical matter with the Malaysian Highway Authority.

The third is the widening of trunk roads from Bayan Lepas to Teluk Kumbar near Gertak Sanggul to overcome a bottleneck which normally occurs in Bayan Lepas after office hours. This project is 30 months from completion.

A spokesman of JKPP said the concessionaire had wanted to carry out the three dispersal projects on the island, but the federal government opted to award them to other federal agencies.

The 24km bridge was officially opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last night.

However, there is no denying that the second Penang bridge has long-term economic benefits for the state and the northern part of the peninsula.

Ismail said JKPP had engaged the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research to study the economic viability of the project.

The bridge can certainly generate fresh investments to spur the development of Penang's southern region.

But in the short term, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) may be right in pointing out that the second bridge would only create more traffic congestion.

CAP had opposed the bridge as it claimed the facility would encourage more motorists to drive into the island.

The island offers better accommodation, tourism attractions, tastier food and better retail centres than the mainland.

Penangites in the manufacturing zones of Bayan Lepas and Batu Maung would do well to emulate Klang Valley workers by not going home directly after work.

For those who can afford, they should work longer in the office, head out to the gymnasiums, exercise outdoors, enjoy Penang's hawker fare or surf the Internet after their regular office hours.

This is better than getting stuck in a traffic congestion.

By Ian McIntyre, The Ant Daily