Second bridge delayed by a year

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BATU KAWAN: The completion of the RM4.3bil Second Penang Bridge has been delayed by a year to 2013.

Factors such as the re-designing of the bridge caused the completion date to be moved, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said.

“The scheduled progress should be 20% now but it is only 7%,” he said.

“I am, however, satisfied with the progress of the work being carried out and am confident that we can catch up despite a few hitches,” he told reporters after visiting the United Engineers Malaysia (UEM) segmental box girder factory here yesterday.

The factory was set up to manufacture some 8,100 girders for the bridge.

Nor Mohamed said the packages awarded under the project included RM2.2bil for work on the main span, substructures and the foundation, which were expected to be completed in May 2012.

The second package involves RM1.55bil superstructure work to be completed by early 2013. The final package involves RM350mil of land work both on the island and mainland.

He said the project, which would benefit the state’s economic development, had provided employment to some 1,200 people.

The 17km bridge will link Batu Kawan to Batu Maung on Penang Island and will be the longest in the region when completed.