Penang still needs third road link despite Mutiara LRT bridge, says Zairil

GEORGE TOWN: A third road crossing between Penang island and the mainland remains crucial to easing traffic congestion, particularly in northern Seberang Prai, the state legislative assembly heard today.

State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the recently approved Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) link between the island and Penang Sentral in Butterworth would cater only to rail passengers, pedestrians and cyclists.

"Although it is a bridge connecting the island with Seberang Prai, it is not a vehicular bridge. It is strictly for trains.

"In other words, the rail bridge will not ease the heavy traffic volume on the Penang Bridge.

"Given traffic demand and feasibility, another road crossing remains necessary, particularly to cater to rapid traffic growth in northern Seberang Prai," he said during question time.

On Package 4 of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), Zairil said the state government was reassessing the viability of the proposed third link, including replacing the long-planned undersea tunnel with an elevated bridge.

He said the decision followed a feasibility study, prompting the state to approve a review of the alignment and conceptual design to assess the bridge option as a more practical alternative.

The proposed realignment would shift the crossing further north to avoid clashing with the North Butterworth Container Terminal expansion plans and disrupting key maritime navigation channels.

On the island, the bridge approach would be integrated with traffic dispersal plans around Gurney Bay and surrounding main roads.

Zairil said the conceptual design study was being prepared and would be presented to the Penang Port Commission for feedback and regulatory consideration before a final route was decided.

Responding to Teh Lai Heng (DAP-Komtar) on whether land swaps could finance the project amid changing property values, Zairil said the RM845 per sq ft baseline in the agreement referred to net developable land to be handed over to the turnkey contractor, rather than the gross reclamation area.

He stressed that the financing model for the overarching RM6.3 billion package is not solely reliant on land parcels

"The RM6.3 billion sum is structured to be paid not solely via land swap, but also through a toll concession for the third link.

"The toll concession acts as an adjustable variable where we can alter the concession period or the toll rates to ensure the project remains commercially viable and fully deliverable," he said.

On Package 2, the RM851 million bypass linking Bandar Baru Air Itam to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, Zairil said tunnel options had been dropped in favour of the original open-cut design following technical advice from the Public Works Department.

Back in August, the state government confirmed that Penang's proposed third link remains on the cards, with the project included indicatively in the Penang Structure Plan 2040.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the proposed third bridge or undersea tunnel remained in the plan as the agreement for the project was still valid.

During the May 2025 state legislative assembly sitting, Zairil had said that the state government was considering a proposal for a new design change, from an undersea tunnel to a bridge across the Penang Straits.

Penang currently has two road bridges connecting the island to the mainland.