Exco: Second Penang bridge on schedule
Athi VeerangganPublished: Apr 20, 2007 7:04 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Work on the RM3 billion second link bridge between Penang island and the mainland is already underway contrary to claims by DAP, said a state exco member today.
Work on the RM3 billion second link bridge between Penang island and the mainland is already underway contrary to claims by DAP, said a state exco member today.
"We have started the geo-technical study on the second bridge and its physical construction would follow soon after," said state executive councillor Dr Teng Hock Nan
"Many people wrongly perceive that a project only starts when physical construction takes place," added Teng, who is in charge of the state's local government, traffic management, information and community relations.
He said experts were now carrying out a soil study on the mega project.
According to him, the experts were expected to complete their detailed geo-technical study at both ends of the mega highway by the third half of the year.
They have already completed their structural study on the 24km-bridge and earmarked areas to be cleared in Batu Maung (island) and Batu Kawan (mainland) for both ends of the link.
Teng was commenting on Penang DAP's criticism that the state government was not serious and sincere in constructing the second bridge link.
Election gimmick?
Last week, Penang DAP secretary Danny Law Heng Kiang said the second bridge was merely an election gimmick, claiming that a DAP probe revealed that the government had not even started to acquire land, clear the sites or start piling works to commence the project.
"Perhaps it is just another BN election gimmick. It seems the promise would remain as one for the next election," he said.
Responding to this, Teng said DAP was merely talking about the physical side of the project while conveniently overlooking the technical and financial aspects of it.
"Many aspects of a project must be looked into before physical construction can commence. We have to carry out an in-depth study before constructing the bridge," he said.
Last November, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the project would take off by April 2007 and be ready by December 2011.
"The project had taken off right on schedule," insisted Teng.
The proposed bridge, which includes a 17km elevated sea highway, will link the island near a barge jetty in Batu Maung and the mainland at a federal trunk road stretch in Batu Kawan.
Each side of the three-lane bridge will have a motorcycle lane and two lanes for heavier vehicles.
"We have started the geo-technical study on the second bridge and its physical construction would follow soon after," said state executive councillor Dr Teng Hock Nan
"Many people wrongly perceive that a project only starts when physical construction takes place," added Teng, who is in charge of the state's local government, traffic management, information and community relations. He said experts were now carrying out a soil study on the mega project.
According to him, the experts were expected to complete their detailed geo-technical study at both ends of the mega highway by the third half of the year.
They have already completed their structural study on the 24km-bridge and earmarked areas to be cleared in Batu Maung (island) and Batu Kawan (mainland) for both ends of the link.
Teng was commenting on Penang DAP's criticism that the state government was not serious and sincere in constructing the second bridge link.
Election gimmick?
Last week, Penang DAP secretary Danny Law Heng Kiang said the second bridge was merely an election gimmick, claiming that a DAP probe revealed that the government had not even started to acquire land, clear the sites or start piling works to commence the project.
"Perhaps it is just another BN election gimmick. It seems the promise would remain as one for the next election," he said.
Responding to this, Teng said DAP was merely talking about the physical side of the project while conveniently overlooking the technical and financial aspects of it.
"Many aspects of a project must be looked into before physical construction can commence. We have to carry out an in-depth study before constructing the bridge," he said.
Last November, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the project would take off by April 2007 and be ready by December 2011.
"The project had taken off right on schedule," insisted Teng.
The proposed bridge, which includes a 17km elevated sea highway, will link the island near a barge jetty in Batu Maung and the mainland at a federal trunk road stretch in Batu Kawan.
Each side of the three-lane bridge will have a motorcycle lane and two lanes for heavier vehicles.
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