Penang’s third link in the pipeline

By ANDREA FILMER

The Star 30 April 2011

GEORGE TOWN: With the Second Penang bridge project almost 50% complete, Penang has turned its sights towards a proposed third link a Penang-Butterworth sea tunnel.

The 6.5km tunnel, proposed by the Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG), will connect Gurney Drive on Penang island and Bagan Ajam in North Seberang Prai.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the project stemmed from a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between BUCG and the state government signed in Putrajaya on Thursday.

It was one of eight agreements signed between Malaysia and China in the presence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao.

Lim said BUCG is an established (state-owned) company in China whose projects included the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium in Beijing.

“To get the attention of such a company is a vote of confidence from China on the re-emergence of Penang as a premier location of choice for investors,” he said after the opening of the state assembly sitting byYang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas here yesterday.

Central Seberang Prai district is currently connected to the island via the Penang Bridge; while the South Seberang Prai district will be connected to Batu Maung on the island by the 24km second link due for completion in November 2013.

“The state is intent on pursuing this (third link) as it will place Penang on a strong and firm footing for the next 20 years,” he said.

Lim added the proposed tunnel would bring economic development to North Seberang Prai, Kepala Batas and Tasek Gelugor along with cutting down traffic congestion in the state.

He said the proposed tunnel would be connected to a previously announced 4.2km road linking Gurney Drive to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.

The proposed bypass, along with another 4.6km tunnel road linking Air Itam to the same expressway, has been estimated to cost around RM4bil.