GEORGE TOWN – The Penang State Government does not reject the possibility to build the third bridge as its third link to connect the island to the mainland in replacement of the undersea tunnel.
Its Chief Minister, Chow Kon Yeow said that the consideration to build the bridge will only be made after a feasibility study is officially presented to the State Government.
The feasibility study conducted by contractor, Consortium Zenith Construction (CZC) is only for the undersea tunnel and not the bridge.
“On the suggestion to replace the undersea tunnel with a bridge, the State Government does not reject the possibility to build a bridge as the third link, however, it is not under our consideration yet,” he said in a media statement today.
Commenting on the status of the undersea tunnel project, Kon Yeow said that the feasibility study on the project has been completed and it will be presented to the State Government Council Meeting right after getting the input from the technical agencies, including the agencies from the Federal Government.
“The State Government has given many explanations on the details of the projected awarded via open tender in 2012, however, there are many manipulations of fact by irresponsible quarters.
“One again, I would like to clarify that the cost for the feasibility studies and detailed designs for all four packages (three highways and an undersea tunnel) is RM305 million. However, RM208 million have been paid via CZC exchange land for the feasibility studies and the detailed designs for the three highways.
“No payment was made for the undersea tunnel because the State Government has yet to accept and approve the feasibility study,” Kon Yeow said. -MalaysiaGazette
