Penang may scrap undersea tunnel plan, says exco
The 7.2km-long undersea tunnel and roads project is part of the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan. (File pic)
GEORGE TOWN : The Penang government is considering replacing its long-proposed undersea tunnel with a bridge connecting the island to the mainland, says state executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari.
'We are considering a new design proposal to replace the undersea tunnel with a bridge across the Penang Strait,' he told the state assembly during his winding-up speech.
He said the bridge may link Pulau Tikus on the island to Bagan Ajam on the mainland. It may be the third bridge linking the island to the mainland.
Zairil, the state infrastructure committee chairman, said a feasibility study — including the bridge option and other alternatives — was completed in 2023.
He added that an implementation study for the new design is expected to be completed soon, after which the final design will be confirmed.
'Once the study is complete, we will finalise the new design. A traffic impact assessment and all other necessary evaluations will be conducted after that,' he said.
The undersea tunnel project, first proposed in 2011 as part of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), was intended to connect George Town to Butterworth via a 7.2km tunnel.
Earlier, in a written reply to Lee Khai Loon (PH–Machang Bubok), Zairil said the tunnel project was still relevant and could benefit both the public and state's development.
He said the tunnel would help alleviate congestion on routes leading to the first Penang Bridge by diverting traffic onto the new link.
'The new design presents a practical alternative to advance the Third Link project (undersea tunnel project), considering efficiency, feasibility, and social and environmental impacts,' he said.
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On Feb 26, housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming said the tunnel's feasibility study was still under review.
It was previously reported that the state was also considering external factors that could affect the project, including the planned expansion of the Butterworth port, which might impact the tunnel's proposed exit.
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