SHAH ALAM, 1 Apr: The second Penang Bridge, the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge (SAHMS) has allegedly failed to solve traffic problems faced by motorists in the state as the access to several highways has not started.
The Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, said that poor planning from the authorities have caused motorists to face extraordinary congestion because the highway access in Batu Maung to Georgetown or Bayan Lepas will only begin this year and only be completed in three years.
In fact, he said, setting the toll rate at RM8.50 for first class vehicles who want to use the bridge is seen as not helping ease traffic congestion on the first Penang Bridge.
“Already there have been complaints that the landing point of the SAHMS Bridge in Batu Maung on the Penang Island is choked with traffic congestion because the access highway roads out to George Town or to Bayan Lepas has still not commenced.
“This is poor planning and foresight by the authorities because such access highways should have been built at the same time and completed together with the SAHMS Bridge.
“Fixing a toll rate of RM 8.50 for cars using the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah(SAHMS) Bridge that is 21.4% higher than the First Penang Bridge will not help to reduce congestion at the traffic choke point of the First Penang Bridge. How then would this help to reduce traffic congestion on the First Penang Bridge?” he said in a statement.
He said that unfortunately there is no 20% discount for Touch & Go users from Penang and the traffic choke points caused by the lack of access highways would cause motorists would shy away from SAHMS and prefer the First Penang Bridge.
He said that this would cause motorists to avoid using the SAHMS Bridge and choose to use the first Penang bridge, thus failing to resolve the traffic congestion.
Guan Eng said that MHA should consider charging the same toll rate for SAHMS Bridge as the First Penang Bridge until the access highways in Batu Maung are completed in 3 years’ time.
“If the toll rate were the same, motorists may still consider choosing the SAHMS Bridge.
“MHA should realise that the longer SAHMS Bridge of 24km compared to the First Penang Bridge of 13.5 km means a higher petrol cost for motorists,” he said.
The Malaysian Highway Authority(MHA) announced that the rate is RM1.70 for motorcycle (Class 0); RM8.50 for cars except taxis and buses (Class 1), RM30.50 for two-axle and six-wheeled vehicles except buses (Class 2), RM70.10 for three-axle or more vehicles except buses (Class 3), RM8.50 for taxis (Class 4) and RM26.20 for buses (Class 5).
