Work begins on Second Bridge

Work begins on Second Bridge
NST Online » Local News 2008/11/09
By : Sharanjit Singh



Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (right) with Chinese Trade Commissioner to Malaysia Gao Wen Kuan after the launch of the project site office and jetty in Batu Maung


GEORGE TOWN: Construction of the Second Penang Bridge by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) finally started yesterday. The RM4.3 billion bridge was scheduled to be ready by 2011 but the project has been delayed by more than a year due to unresolved issues among parties involved in the project.CHEC now projects the completion date to be in May 2012.


Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who opened the project site office and temporary jetty in Batu Maung here yesterday, described the second bridge as a "bridge of hope" for Penang.Lim said the project would boost the state's economy, especially in the industrial sector, and help authorities better manage the traffic on the island. "It is indeed a historic moment for the people of Penang as the second bridge project has finally started." Present at the ceremony were Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) managing director, Tan Sri Zaini Omar, Chinese Trade commissioner to Malaysia, Gao Wen Kuan, and China Harbour managing director Sun Ziyu.At the peak of its construction, about 100 vessels and 12 piling rigs will be deployed and 1,500 people will be working non-stop on three eight-hour shifts.


The sea portion of the bridge will be built, spanning 16.37km over water, at a cost of RM2.2 billion.The amount is RM100 million less than the original tender price as the new bridge design has done away with the two viewing platforms which were originally planned.The cost was also reduced as the final contract between CHEC and JKSB allows for variation of price for base materials like fuel, cement and steel, and the re-measurement of piling work, both of which were originally the most uncertain risks to be borne by CHEC.Now, both parties will share the risk and benefits together. CHEC will be reimbursed if there is an increase in the price of materials, and it will revise the contract price accordingly if there is a drop in prices.Sun said the project had become not just any design-and-build task but a "sacred political mission" entrusted to the company by leaders of Malaysia and China.He said there were ample opportunities for local companies to benefit from the project by becoming sub-contractors, material suppliers and technical service providers."


At the moment, 30 per cent of the project management team is made up of locals and more will be engaged as work progresses."Asked if the company was confident of working without any more delays to the project, he said: "The project duration is 42 months and the completion date will be on May 7, 2012, for which we have worked out a detailed programme."We will strictly follow the contract requirements and complete the work on time. "Although we were unable to start work for the past one year, a lot of preparation work has been done, which means we are ready to carry out the construction schedule full swing."Zaini said UEM Builders, which had been offered the contract to build the land portion of the bridge, had until next week to state whether it wanted to take up the offer.He said the contract worth RM1.35 billion would be opened to restricted tenders if UEM did not take it up.