Najib Looking Forward To Open Second Penang Bridge

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is looking forward to the opening of the Second Penang Bridge which is scheduled for early next month.

"Plans for the Second Penang Bridge was first unveiled in 2006. I am looking forward to opening it to the public next month," he said in his latest tweet Wednesday.

The 24-km bridge - of which 17km is above the sea and seven kilometres over land - was designed with environmental sustainability in mind and links Batu Kawan on the mainland to Batu Maung on the island.

Once opened, it is expected to reduce congestion on the existing Penang Bridge by 25 per cent.

The RM4.5-billion bridge, a Federal government project, is the longest in Southeast Asia and is expected to be able to handle 100,000 vehicles daily.

The bridge was originally planned for completion on Nov 8 last year and to be opened to the public by the end of November, but was postponed to this year.