The second weekend of our Citizen Journalism workshop, had Anil Netto, famous blogger and professional journalist, conducting it. As part of our assignment, all of us had to write an article on Penang. I choose to write on this topic, and here is the article, with some corrections done by Anil.
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I commute to work daily, sometimes in a car, sometimes on a bus. Many times, I get caught in a traffic jam during office rush hours. When it rains, the traffic situation gets worse. Such is Penang’s traffic system. Too many vehicles clog the road.
People who travel between the island and the mainland of Penang will either use the Penang Bridge or the ferry service. As the traffic flow increases, traffic congestion becomes a headache for motorists. The government has come up with a solution to this – a third link, i.e. the second Penang Bridge… but will this really be the solution? Do we really need the second Penang Bridge?
The 2nd Penang bridge will link Batu Maung on the island to Batu Kawan on the mainland. It will be 24 km in length (17 km over the sea). The cost of building the bridge, originally was at RM2.7 billion when it was first mooted in July 2007 but it sky-rocketed to RM4.3 billion in April 2008. now on April 2008 it is expected to cost RM4.3 billion.
There was no transparency in the awarding of the tender for the second bridge. The government awarded the concessionaire to build, manage, operate and maintain the second bridge to an UMNO-owned company, UEM Sdn Bhd, without tender.
The government’s plan to build the second Penang bridge is to solve traffic congestion moving into and out of the island and the mainland, but why do we need to add new infrastructure when we can improve on the existing infrastructure?
First of all, let’s look at the cost of the second Penang Bridge – at an astounding cost of RM4.3 billion. Why, with just half of that cost, the money could be use to expand the existing ferry service and maybe build a cross-channel rail link, a better solution to the second Penang bridge.
Don’t forget the bridge will be a burden on your pocket too with your car’s petrol usage (the bridge being 24 km) and the toll. Batu Maung in the island and Batu Kawan in the mainland where the bridge will be situated are way out of town area and residential areas – and that requires a long journey again.
UEM, in a letter to the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department, had proposed a toll rate of RM9.40 for the second bridge. The other proposals were that when the second bridge is ready, the toll rate for the existing bridge too should be increased to RM9.40 and the 20% discount for the Touch N’ Go card cancelled. Not only that, they suggested no maximum rate for the second bridge hike! (source, Mysinchew online, March 2008)
The construction of the second Penang bridge will most probably hurt the fishing industry in the southeast of the island. As a result of land reclamation, the fisherfolk’s catches will be drastically reduced. Then there is this matter of the construction consuming lots of raw materials which will give rise to global warming.
The second Penang Bridge will not solve traffic congestion problem. More vehicles will be using the bridge, which means bringing in more vehicles to the island. It will create bottlenecks at the entrance and exit of the bridge. More vehicles on the road means the roads getting more congested as many of the road in Penang are already congested, with no means of widening the roads. Has an independent EIA and traffic study to analyse the impact on surrounding areas and roads on the mainland and the island been carried out for this project?
Building new roads and bridges will not solve traffic congestion problems in the long run. Sooner or later, such infrastructure will get congested again and we are back to square one. To solve traffic congestion, the solution is to have less traffic on the road.
How do we do that? Improve the existing public transport. This will reduce dependency on private vehicles on the road, and thus reduce traffic.
With all the reasons given above, the government should give a second thought to the second Penang bridge project. We don’t need it for sure. The existing Penang bridge already is being expanded to three lanes – and it will result in a slight improvement in the traffic between the island/mainland..
Then the ferry service, which had been in existence for over 20 years, surely can be improved and expanded. Other countries make full use of river transport. Penang, being an island surrounded by water, have a lot of potential in river transport. More ferry terminals should be set up at different points of the island and mainland so that the ferries can move across the channel at more than one point only, as it is now. Shuttle buses can then be introduced to fetch people to the terminals. Another alternative is to build a light rail link parallel to the existing first bridge. The rail link could then be connected by buses to urban centres and industrial areas in the island and mainland.
We should not add new infrastructure when we can improve on the existing infrastructure. Adding new roads or bridges does not solve the traffic congestion problem. The only way to solve traffic congestion problems is to reduce the number of vehicles on the road – private vehicles especially. The government should thus come out with a comprehensive public transport plan for Penang.
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Not convinced enough? then let my ‘sifu’ convinced you. Please visit his blog and read about it.
Ten reasons why the second Penang Bridge is not a great idea (April 2008)
Bridge near Shanghai works out cheaper per km than the second Penang Bridge (May 2008)
Second bridge soars to RM4.8 billion (June 2008)
At least RM500/month to use the second Penang Bridge (June 2008)
Oil, steel price plunge – but second bridge still RM4.6b? (Nov. 2008)
Entries (RSS)
March 13th, 2009 at 9:12 am
“The government awarded the concessionaire to build, manage, operate and maintain the second bridge to an UMNO-owned company, UEM Sdn Bhd, without tender.”
This is no true. UEM now is just one of a contractor to build the Penang second bridge only.
The bridge is currently own by Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB), which is a company setup by federal government.
Penang Bridge 2: Dropdead deadline for UEM
http://www.jeffooi.com/2008/09/penang_bridge_2_dropdead_deadl.php
Second Penang Bridge cost to remain at RM4.3b
http://www.theedgedaily.com/political-news/1206-yong-min-wei.html
You may right, building new roads and bridges will not solve traffic congestion problems in the long run.
However, the second bridge is required for better connectivity between island and mainland, especially the industry near bayan lepas and bukit minyak ovr thr.
March 13th, 2009 at 10:13 am
At the cost of 4.3 bill, it could be cheaper to relocate all the industrial areas in Bayan Lepas to the mainland nearer to Bkt Minyak & reduce traffic between the 2 industrial areas.
March 13th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
If all industrial areas in Bayan Lepas transfer to mainland, then I believe Penang International Airport may need to relocate also, since the airport play an important role to export those goods to the world. So, do you think after consider these factor, will the cost is going cheaper than 4.3bil? As even building a LCCT at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is estimated cost of RM2 bil already.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
As a penangite, I’d say, we need the damm second bridge. It’s long overdue! Those nay-sayers (I find them usually not from PG) can’t stop thinking nonsense. With or without the 2nd bridge, traffic is still going to come in, and at that time, the exisitng bridge would be superbly crammed up.
As for commuting by Ferry, do you know how long it takes to cross the water? Even with speedier ferry, it’s still downright impossible to match the speed of driving on the bridge. The 2nd bridge also connects to one of the busiest industry area, that is almost right next to it. With the 2nd bridge, industry workers around that area can use the 2nd bridge while town folks can use the existing bridge. Life would be so much easier…
If only those nay-sayers would use the bridge on every Friday then you’ll know that we PGites need the 2nd bridge.
March 14th, 2009 at 2:45 am
jackie
yeah now it is more than one contractor but in the beginning it was only UEM, i guess. anyway, thanks for the pointer – i stand corrected… should have mention it if i knew of it.
you said the second bridge is needed for better connectivity between the island and the mainland… but there are other options for the connectivity, mind you. e.g. as i mentioned improving ferry service, light rail link.
shag
yes if all the industrial areas in the island are to move to the mainland, traffic between these 2 industrial ares will be reduced but still the bridge will be use by many who are not commuting between the industrial areas. they still have a reason they want the second bridge!
er… jackie, i don’t think the cost will be cheaper if the penang airport moves. less people using the airport won’t really have a great effect on the travel between island and mainland on the bridge.
noor
i’m a penangite. i know the terrible traffic congestion on every friday. started as early as 3.00pm. each time i return home from work in georgetown to bayan baru, on the coastal highway which leads to the road leading to the penang bridge, i see always traffic being so congested. well… this will be the same scene we see at the second penang bridge a few years after it had been opened!
March 15th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Hi Lucia, juz discovered your new blog.
Am a frequent visitor to Penang.
Am in favour of the 2nd bridge. It will be an asset to Penang.
The 2nd bridge will cater to those going to the Bayan Lepas area and the south-west portion of Penang. The 1st bridge will then be less congested. Those going to the north-eastern parts should be encouraged to use the feris. More feris should be put into service. The 1st bridge cannot handle the present volume of traffic.
A light rail link between the mainland and Penang island still will need a bridge to carry it. With the present internal road links and public transport, it would not be feasible. Buses bringing commuters in and out of Penang island using the 2 bridges would be better alternatives.
March 16th, 2009 at 1:51 am
hi lone
glad to still see you around. you have a point there but the thing is yes in the beginning it wil solve the traffic congestion but after some time, it’ll be back to square one. one don’t solve traffic congestion by adding more roads (well the penang bridge is a ‘road’). the light rail link can use the present bridge – more than enough. your suggestion of the buses ferrying commuters in and out of the island using the 2 bridges – see, already adding in traffic. roads are being built – so more traffic can use it, meaning traffic will increase. people thinking oh got more roads (links) we can travel in vehicles already using those roads – adding to the congestion.
i still hold the point that the best way to solve traffic congestion is to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. and how to do that? plan for a very good public transport.
March 16th, 2009 at 1:56 am
oh sorry forgot to mention…
lone, i am still blogging at my old blog, ‘mental jog’. this is new but i still maintain mental jog and will blog there more.
March 16th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Hi again,
Penang’s eonomy depends a lot on tourism, local as well as foreign. The 2nd bridge will boost tourism too. As for internal island public transport, the Pakatan and LGE must deal effectively with it. It is what they have been telling one and all that they will be doing. So get on with it, whether it is gonna be trams, monorail or more Rapid buses : ). Make sure you and your activists continue the pressure.
March 17th, 2009 at 1:02 am
lone
precisely why the reason soon enough (well not that soon but say 5 years down the road) the second penang bridge will be congested – tourism! lots of people will come and be using it.
PR had set up some transport council body to look into the transport woes in penang. hopefully this body will get going and get working.