Penang Undersea Tunnel Will Be Scrapped If Third Bridge Is Approved
The Penang government will scrap the undersea tunnel project if the Federal Government grants approval for a third bridge in the state.
State Public Works, Utilities, Transportation Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng said this is based on cost justification of the bridge construction and maintenance which was way cheaper than the undersea tunnel proposed by the state government.
“The undersea tunnel project (Third Link) connecting Gurney Drive and Bagan Ajam is still at the feasibility study stage and has reached 87% of the study,” he said at a question and answer session yesterday.
He was replying to a question from Datuk Muhamad Farid Saad (BN-Pulau Betong) who wanted to know the status of the construction of three highways and undersea tunnel which had been planned by the Penang government.
Lim said the feasibility study on the tunnel, which was originally expected to be completed in December 2016, was granted an extension until September 2017.
“The extension was given after taking into account the need to coordinate information which involved the master plan for sea reclamation projects around Bagan Ajam which had not been finalised,” he said.
Lim said so far, total payment for the main road and tunnel projects in Penang was RM219,987,410.
He said of the amount, RM208,755,080 was paid to Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd as the project contractor and RM11,232,330 to HSS Integrated Sdn Bhd as the independent project technical consultant appointed by the state.
“So far nothing has been paid to the DEIA (Detailed Environment Impact Detailed Assessment) consultants,” he said.
The construction of the undersea tunnel is part of the Penang Transport Master Plan to solve traffic congestion on the island.
Source: Bernama
all talk only no action.
How many years I heard the progress at 87%, next time we will hear 88, 89, 90%.
Both party also taichi to each other…….kanasai!
Totally agreed. Just freaking talk only.
What about the bypass from Farlim to TDLCE highway, Gurney Drive to TDLCE highway, and the pair road from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang?
If they cannot even build those three bypasses and pair road, you can just forget about the undersea tunnel third link, and the BS PTMP for the light rails.
trash talk.
Talk is easy, just like Trump want to build wall in Mexico border.
@KC
Correct there is no funder for the tunnel. the local JV partner who was supposed to build the 3 paired roads since June last year relied on chinese money. When the chinese pull out there is nothing left. Who selected the JV partner ? Our state govt. So now when there is no funding sure malu la wanna announce so now using the 3rd bridge excuse as a cover up.
Agreed. When comes to infrastructure development. State just failed to deliver. Sorry dap supporters. Full of rhetorics. But no concrete results.
State proudly claim that penang’s game changer super project is IKEA batu kawan..what do u guys expect??