People still prefer using the first Penang Bridge

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 7): The Auditor General’s Report 2017 released on Monday has revealed that the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge (pictured) has yet to fully meet its objective.

Built in 2014 at a cost of RM4.74 billion, the bridge was supposed to ease traffic congestion on the first Penang Bridge but the report revealed that traffic on the first bridge had instead increased between 2.4% and 3.8% from 2014 to 2016.

The Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Bridge is 24km long and connects Batu Kawan on the mainland to Batu Maung on the island.

“The average daily traffic reported on the first bridge had increased between 78,980 and 83,961 from 2014 to 2016.

“This is because of the location of the first bridge, which is near Seberang Prai Utara dan Seberang Prai Tengah, with a high population concentration of 369,340 in 2016.

“The location of the first bridge is also near major towns such as Prai, Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam compared to the second bridge in Batu Kawan and Seberang Prai Selatan, with only 209,020 people in 2016,” the New Straits Times (NST) quoted the Auditor General’s audit report of the second bridge operator Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB).

“Also, the distance of the second bridge to main towns, at a distance of 34km or 30 minutes, resulted in more people opting to use the first bridge,” the report added.

The NST also said the report revealed that the 20% rebate offered by PLUS Malaysia Bhd to registered Penangites is a factor impacting people’s preference for the first bridge.