Penang Second Bridge

The Penang Second Bridge (Malay: Jambatan Kedua Pulau Pinang) is a dual carriageway toll bridge in Penang, Malaysia. It connects Batu Kawan on the mainland Malay Peninsula with Seberang Perai and 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, making it the longest bridge in Malaysia and the 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. Construction actually 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.

Recently, the Penang Second Bridge was assigned with the route number.

Overview
The Penang Second Bridge is a High Impact Project (HIP) launched under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. Being a High Impact Project, it is seen as a key catalyst in the socio-economic development of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) of Malaysia. The project is being delivered by a special purpose Concession Company formed by the Government of Malaysia, Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB). The bridge measuring a total of 24 km in length is being constructed by UEM Builders Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the UEM Group Malaysia, as well as China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a subsidiary of the China Construction & Communications Group (CCCG). Construction of the bridge, linking Batu Kawan on the mainland and Batu Maung on Penang Island, began in November 2008 and is currently projected completed on February 2014. The bridge will be opened to traffic on 1 March 2014.

Route background
The Kilometre Zero of the expressway starts at Batu Kawan Interchange, at its interchange with the North-South Expressway Northern Route, the main expressway of the central of Peninsular Malaysia.

Planning
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 fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Construction
After 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.

On 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. Newly elected Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng proposed a toll discount for any delays on the project and also expressed disappointment regarding the construction delay.

On 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.

On 8 November 2008, the construction of the Penang Second Bridge by CHEC finally commenced.

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.

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 was originally planned for completion on 8 November 2013 and to be opened to the public by the end of November. However, the opening day of 8 November 2013 was postponed and the bridge will be opened to traffic on 1 March 2014.

Opening
The opening ceremony of the Penang Second Bridge will be held on Saturday night, March 1, 2014 and will officially opened by the sixth Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. Next day on March 2, 2014, the bridge will be opened to traffic at 7:00 am on morning.

Penang Second Bridge ramp at Batu Maung interchange collapse
On 6 June 2013, a ramp leading to the still under construction Penang Second Bridge at Batu Maung interchange collapsed at around 7:00 pm, burying a car and two motorcycles under the debris. One person was killed in the incident. The ramp which is part of the Package 3A of the bridge project was built by the contractor Cergas Murni Sdn Bhd and not UEM Builders Berhad.

Bridge specifications

 * Overall length: 24 km
 * Length over water: 16.9 km
 * Main span: Length - 250 m
 * Height clearance (above water): 30 m
 * Number of vehicle lanes: 2 + 1 for motorcycles (each direction)
 * Targeted date to be opened to the public: February 2014
 * Overall cost: Around RM3 billion
 * Average time taken to drive from Batu Kawan to Batu Maung: 20 mins
 * Proposed speed limit on bridge: 80 km/h (50 mph)
 * Percentage of local contents to be used: 60%

Overview
The tolls will be collected by a private concession company, Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB), which is similar to the toll scheme for the Penang Bridge. Fees are charged one way when crossing the bridge from the mainland to Penang Island. There is no toll imposed for mainland-bound motorists coming from the island. The Bandar Cassia toll plaza will only be charged on motorist coming from Bandar Cassia Interchange. Motorist coming from Batu Kawan Interchange will be charged at the Batu Kawan toll plaza.

Batu Kawan Toll Plaza (Gateway Arch Toll Plaza)
The Batu Kawan Toll Plaza or Gateway Arch Toll Plaza is a main toll plaza for Penang Second Bridge in Batu Kawan, Penang, Malaysia. Upon completion in February 2014, Batu Kawan Toll Plaza (Gateway Arch Toll Plaza) will be the largest toll plaza in Malaysia, with the Sungai Besi Toll Plaza being the second. The design for Batu Kawan toll plaza is an arch shape to celebrate this gateway concept and become an iconic feature of the design and it is similar to Gateway Arch in St Louis, Missouri, United States.

Penang Second Bridge Toll Plaza (For Bandar Cassia Interchange - Penang Second Bridge bound only)

 * Note: Touch 'n Go is also available for light vehicles and motorcycles. The Smart TAG lane is for light vehicles only.

JKSB Ronda
JKSB Ronda is the highway patrol unit to patrol along the Penang Second Bridge and land expressways and also to provide assistance to commuters on the bridge. The current highway patrol vehicles is the Japanese made Mitsubishi i-MiEV, the four-seater electric vehicle, with similar dimensions of a Perodua Viva, is able to travel 150km after an eight-hour full charge. Seven charging stations were also set up at the toll plaza on the mainland, two of them being rapid chargers which are able to give a 80 per cent charge in 30 minutes.

Rest and Service Area
The future Rest and Service Area (R&R) is located at Batu Kawan on the mainland. Previously, the original planned was the middle of the bridge.