Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge
The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge (Malay: Jambatan Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah), also known as the Penang Second Bridge (Jambatan Kedua Pulau Pinang) is a dual carriageway toll bridge in Penang, Malaysia. It connects Bandar Cassia (Batu Kawan) in Seberang Perai on mainland Peninsular Malaysia with Batu Maung on Penang Island. It is the second bridge to link the island to the mainland after the first Penang Bridge.
The total length of the bridge is 24 km (15 mi) with length over water at 16.9 km (10.5 mi), making it the longest bridge in Malaysia and the second longest in Southeast Asia. China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC), a main contractor for the second bridge was expected to start work on the second Penang bridge in November 2007 and comple...Read more
The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge (Malay: Jambatan Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah), also known as the Penang Second Bridge (Jambatan Kedua Pulau Pinang) is a dual carriageway toll bridge in Penang, Malaysia. It connects Bandar Cassia (Batu Kawan) in Seberang Perai on mainland Peninsular Malaysia with Batu Maung on Penang Island. It is the second bridge to link the island to the mainland after the first Penang Bridge.
The total length of the bridge is 24 km (15 mi) with length over water at 16.9 km (10.5 mi), making it the longest bridge in Malaysia and the second longest in Southeast Asia. China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC), a main contractor for the second bridge was expected to start work on the second Penang bridge in November 2007 and complete the project in 2011, but the completion date was then postponed to May 2012, and later to February 2014.
It originally was given route code E22 but later changed to E28, and E22 was used by Senai–Desaru Expressway. Construction started in November 2008. To reduce the cost of construction, its design was then modified to resemble the first cable stayed Penang Bridge. The bridge has been built with a large loan from the People's Republic of China to continue and maintain the economic relationship between China and Malaysia. The bridge was officially opened on 1 March 2014 at 20:30 MST and was named after the fourteenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the late Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah of Kedah and was assigned with the route number E28.
The idea to build a second bridge linking Seberang Perai to Penang Island was suggested in 1995 by the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia's Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the 3rd Chief Minister of Penang's Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon. In August 2006, the Malaysian federal government unveiled a plan to build the Penang Second Bridge in the Ninth Malaysia Plan. On 12 November 2006, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Penang Second Bridge was performed by the 5th Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
ConstructionAfter months of soil survey work and test piling work, CHEC and UEM announced that the project was on track for completion in 2011. Construction work was expected to begin in January 2008.[1]
In April 2008, the government announced that the project was to be delayed by 9 months due to land acquisition, design issues, and also the rising costs of building materials.[2] Newly elected Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng proposed a toll discount for any delays on the project[3] and also expressed disappointment regarding the construction delay.[4]
In July 2008, Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi reported that the loan for the bridge risked being withdrawn if the shareholder agreement between UEM Builders Berhad and its joint-venture partner CHEC was not inked by August 2008. It was reported that there were disagreements between the two parties on the apportionment of the cost of building the bridge although the issue was expected to be resolved quickly due to UEM having a variation on the price on its portion.[5]
On 8 November 2008, the construction of the Penang Second Bridge by CHEC finally commenced.[6]
On 3 October 2012, media reports indicated that the bridge was 84% complete, and that the bridge was due to be completed approximately two months ahead of the deadline of September 2013.[7]
On 20 April 2013, the final closure of the cable stayed bridge at the main navigational span of the Penang Second Bridge was completed and thus signified the completion of the construction of the bridge and physically connecting Batu Maung on the Island and Batu Kawan on the Mainland.
On 30 April 2013, the sixth Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak became the country's first leader to use the 24 km Penang Second Bridge to cross from the island to the mainland to attend a function in Kepala Batas, Seberang Perai.
The bridge had been planned for completion on 8 November 2013 and to be opened to the public by the end of November.[8] However, the opening day of 8 November 2013 was postponed and the bridge would be opened to traffic on 1 March 2014.[9][10]
OpeningThe opening ceremony of the Penang Second Bridge was held at 20:30 MST on 1 March 2014 and was officially opened by the Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak.[11] The bridge was official named as Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge after the fourteenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the late Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah of Kedah.[10][12][13] At midnight on 2 March 2014, the bridge was opened to traffic at 00:01 MST after the official opening ceremony.
Restrictions during MCODuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the expressway experienced ramp closures several times.[14] Those ramps were:
Batu Maung Ramp 4 (BMR4) (Southbound motorists had to make a U-turn at Batu Maung before entering the bridge) Bandar Cassia Ramp 7 (BCR7) (Southbound motorists had to make a U-turn at Bandar Cassia before approaching the JK2PP toll plaza) Bandar Cassia Toll Plaza A (Westbound motorists had to pay at Plaza B and pay again at JK2PP toll plaza)
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