Penang Bridge

Last updated

Mes-e36.svg
Expressway 36
Penang Bridge
Jambatan Pulau Pinang
பினாங்கு பாலம்
槟威大桥
Penang Bridge
Penang Bridge in red
Route information
Length13.5 km (8.4 mi)
Existed1970's–present
HistoryOpened 3 August 1985[ citation needed ], inaugurated 14 September 1985 [1]
Major junctions
East endMes-e1.svg North–South Expressway Northern Route North–South Expressway Northern Route and MYS Jkr-ft3112.svg FT 3112 Jalan Perusahan Perai at Perai, Seberang Perai
West endMYS Jkr-ft3113.svg FT 3113 Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and MYS Jkr-ft6.svg FT 6 Gelugor Highway at Gelugor, Penang Island
Location
Country Malaysia
Primary
destinations
George Town, Bayan Lepas, Perai, Butterworth, Bukit Mertajam
Highway system
Penang Bridge
PenangBridge.jpg
Coordinates 5°21′14″N100°21′09″E / 5.353863°N 100.352554°E / 5.353863; 100.352554
Carries Motor vehicles
Crosses Penang Strait, Malaysia
Locale Penang
Official namePenang Bridge
Maintained by PLUS Expressways
Characteristics
Design cable-stayed bridge
box girder bridge
Total length13.5 km (8.4 mi)
Width--
Longest span225 meters
History
DesignerPrimary
Government of Malaysia
Malaysian Highway Authority

Secondary
Flag of South Korea.svg Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company (Korea) Ltd
United Engineers Malaysia Berhad
Constructed by
Multiple
Construction start12 April 1982 [1]
Construction end13 April 1985 [1]
Opened3 August 1985
Inaugurated14 September 1985 [1]
Statistics
TollDepends on vehicle type (island-bound only)
Location
Penang Bridge

The Penang BridgeMes-e36.svg Penang Bridge is a 13.5-kilometre (8.4-mile) [2] [3] dual carriageway toll bridge and controlled-access highway in the state of Penang, Malaysia. The bridge connects Perai on the mainland side of the state with Gelugor on the island, crossing the Penang Strait. The bridge was the first and, until 2014, the only road connection between the peninsula and the island. The bridge is the second-longest bridge over water in Malaysia, with a length over water of 8.4 kilometres (5.2 miles). [3]

Contents

The bridge was inaugurated on 14 September 1985. [1] The current concession holder and maintainer of the bridge is PLUS Expressways. Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd was the concession holder before it was merged with the current concessionaire.[ when? ]

History

Night view of Penang Bridge. Penang Bridge.jpg
Night view of Penang Bridge.
Penang Bridge main span viewed from the deck. Note that the pairs of towers across the deck are not connected above deck level, unlike in many other cable-stayed or suspension bridges with 2 planes of cables. Penang Bridge main span taxi.jpg
Penang Bridge main span viewed from the deck. Note that the pairs of towers across the deck are not connected above deck level, unlike in many other cable-stayed or suspension bridges with 2 planes of cables.

Chronology

DateEvent
Early 1970sThe idea to build a bridge linking Seberang Perai to Penang Island was suggested by the late Tun Abdul Razak, the second Prime Minister of Malaysia and the late Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, the second Chief Minister of Penang.
23 July 1981Works Minister, S. Samy Vellu announced that Penang Bridge, Penang would be constructed using the cable-stayed concrete girder of the San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge instead of the steel-tied arch in the style of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. [4]
1982Construction of Penang Bridge officially began.
3 August 1985Official opening of Penang Bridge by fourth Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir. [5]
14 September 1985Penang Bridge is officially opened to traffic. [6]

Penang Bridge Widening Project

When the bridge was initially constructed, the central span had six lanes, while the rest of the bridge had four lanes. The project to widen the entire bridge to six lanes began in January 2008 and was completed in late 2009.

Features

Penang Bridge has an overall length of 13.5 km (8.4 mi): 8.4 km (5.2 mi) above water, 1.5 km (0.93 mi) on Penang Island and 3.6 km (2.2 mi) in Prai. The 225 m main span is 33 m above water, held up by four 101.5 m towers. The carriageway has 3 lanes in each direction and a speed limit of 70–80 km/h. [7]

The bridge has an emergency layby equipped with SOS phone. Traffic CCTV and Variable Message Sign (VMS) are installed at all locations along the bridge. The bridge carries a Tenaga Nasional 132kV power cable.

Tolls

Entering Plaza Tol Perai Plaza A Plaza Tol Perai JPP Westbound.jpg
Entering Plaza Tol Perai Plaza A

Since 1985, the Penang Bridge has been a tolled bridge. Fees are charged only at one direction, when entering the bridge from the mainland and travelling towards Penang Island. There are no fees imposed for mainland-bound motorists coming from the island. Since 1994, the tolls have been collected by a private concession company, Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd, which has become a member company of PLUS Malaysia Berhad. Beginning 1 January 2019, toll collection for motorcyclists was abolished for both Penang bridges. The price used to be RM1.40. [8] [9] [10] Since then, the toll canopy for motorcyclists was converted into a layby for motorcyclists.

Electronic toll collection

As part of an initiative to facilitate faster transactions at the Perai Toll Plaza, all toll transactions at this toll plaza on the Penang Bridge have been exclusively conducted via electronic toll collection with the use of Touch 'n Go cards and SmartTAGs since 9 September 2015.

Fares

(Since 1 February 2020)

ClassTypes of vehiclesRate
(in Malaysian Ringgit (RM))
1Motorcycles
(Vehicles with two axles and two wheels)
Free
2Cars & Motorcycles with sidecars
(Vehicles with two axles and three or four wheels (including station wagons and commercial vehicles))
5.74
3AVans and & Buses
(Vehicles with two axles and four wheels (excluding lorries))
9.84
3BLorries
(Vehicles with two axles and four wheels (excluding vans and buses))
12.00
4AVans & Buses
(Vehicles with two axles and five or six wheels (excluding trucks))
20.50
4BLarge Trucks
(Vehicles with two axles and five or six wheels (excluding vans and buses))
25.00
5ABuses
(Vehicles with three axles (excluding trucks))
36.90
5BLarge Trucks
(Vehicles with three axles (excluding buses))
45.00
6Large Trucks
(Vehicles with four axles)
60.00
7Large Trucks
(Vehicles with five or more axles)
75.00

List of interchange

kmExitInterchangeToRemarks
Mes-e1.svg North–South Expressway Northern Route Tabliczka AH2.svg AH2 North-South Expressway Northern Route

North
Alor Setar
Permatang Pauh
Seberang Jaya
Malaysia expressway logo.svgMes-e1.svg North–South Expressway Northern Route Tabliczka AH2.svg AH2 North-South Expressway Northern Route
Malaysia expressway logo.svgMes-e36.svg Penang Bridge Tabliczka AH2.svg AH2 Penang Bridge
(Tun Hussein Onn Highway)
Mes-e36.svg Penang Bridge
0
Perai Interchange Northwest
Mes-e17.svg Butterworth Outer Ring Road MYS Jkr-ft1.svg FT 1 Butterworth Outer Ring Road
MYS Jkr-ft1.svg FT 1 Perai
MYS Jkr-ft1.svg FT 1 Butterworth

Southeast
MYS Jkr-ft1.svg FT 1 Butterworth-Kulim Highway
MYS Jkr-ft1.svg FT 1 Bukit Mertajam
Parcelo cloverleaf interchange
Railway crossing bridge
Penang Bridge Interchange 3601A
Mes-e1.svg North–South Expressway Northern Route Tabliczka AH2.svg AH2 North-South Expressway Northern Route

South
Kuala Lumpur
Ipoh
Bukit Tambun


3601B
MYS Jkr-ft3112.svg FT 3112 Jalan Perusahan Perai

Northwest
Perai Industrial Area

Southeast
Juru
3601A
Stacked expressway interchange

3601B
Cloverleaf interchange
Malaysia expressway logo.svgMes-e36.svg Penang Bridge Tabliczka AH2.svg AH2 Penang Bridge
(Tun Hussein Onn Highway)
Malaysia expressway logo.svgMes-e36.svg Penang Bridge Penang Bridge
U-TurnU-TURN
Mes-e36.svg Penang Bridge Tun Hussein Onn Highway
Perai
Butterworth

Malaysia road sign GI4a.svg TnG TAG Information centre (malaysia).jpg
Customer Service Centre
Perai toll plaza (PLAZA A)
(Enter bridge only)
PBSB

SmartTAG Touch 'n Go TnG POS MyRFID
Opened toll system
Pay toll
Light and heavy vehicles only
Perai toll plaza (PLAZA B)
(Enter bridge only)
PBSB

SmartTAG Touch 'n Go TnG POS MyRFID
Opened toll system
Pay toll
Light and heavy vehicles only
Malaysia road sign GI4b.svg Perai toll plaza
PBSB
Malaysia road sign GI4a.svg TnG TAG Information centre (malaysia).jpg
Customer Service Centre
Enter bridge only
U-TurnU-TURN
Mes-e36.svg Penang Bridge Penang Bridge
George Town
Bayan Lepas

Malaysia road sign GI4a.svg TnG TAG Information centre (malaysia).jpg
Customer Service Centre
Penang Bridge
Length Over Water: 8.4 kilometres
3602A
3602B
3602C
Gelugor-Penang Bridge Interchange3602B West
MYS Jkr-ft6.svg FT 6 Gelugor Highway
Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) Regional Office
Jelutong
Gelugor
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

MYS Jkr-ft3113.svg FT 3113 Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway
(Bayan Lepas Expressway)
3602C North
George Town/ Weld Quay
Air Itam
Batu Feringgi
Penang Hospital Hospital (malaysia).jpg

3602A South
Batu Maung
Bayan Lepas Industrial Area
Penang International Airport Airport (malaysia).jpg
Jerejak Island (Jetty)
Stacked expressway Interchange
Tesco Penang Malaysia road sign GI4a.svg
3602C
North
Jalan Tengku Kudin InterchangeWEST
Jkr-ft---.svg P19 Penang Middle Ring Road
Jalan Yengku Kudin
Gelugor
Batu Feringgi
Tanjung Bungah
Air Itam
Penang Hospital Hospital (malaysia).jpg
Interchange from/to Penang Bridge and Bayan Lepas only
Malaysia expressway logo.svgMes-e36.svg Penang Bridge Penang Bridge
(MYS Jkr-ft3113.svg FT 3113 Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway)
(Bayan Lepas Expressway)
PBSB border limit
MYS Jkr-ft3113.svg FT 3113 Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway
(Jelutong Expressway)
JKR and MPPP border limit
North
MYS Jkr-ft3113.svg FT 3113 Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway
(Jelutong Expressway) George Town/Weld Quay
Komtar Ferry
Sungai Pinang
kmExitInterchangeToRemarks
Malaysian Highway Authority Northern Regional Office Malaysian Highway Authority Northern Regional Office
3602B
WEST
Universiti Sains Malaysia InterchangeMYS Jkr-ft6.svg FT 6 Gelugor Highway
North
George Town City Centre
Jelutong
Gelugor
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Penang Hospital Hospital (malaysia).jpg

South
Balik Pulau
Bayan Lepas
Penang International Airport Airport (malaysia).jpg
Trumpet interchange

Commemorative events

Commemorative postage stamps to mark the opening of the Penang Bridge on 1985 were issued by the then Malaysian Postal Services Department (now Pos Malaysia) on 15 September 1985. [11] The denominations for these stamps were 20 sen, 40 sen, and RM 1.00.

Incidents and accidents

Over the years in its operation, the bridge has been a frequent spot for road accidents [12] and suicides.

On 20 January 2019, two cars travelling mainland bound collided and one plunged into the Malacca Strait as a result. [13] A search operation was launched for the submerged car and the victim was later found dead. [14]

Penang Bridge became a subject matter in cartoonist, Lat's comic book, Lat and Gang published in 1987 by Berita Publishing. In the comic's page 58, Lat illustrated various situations took place at the bridge. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

The North–South Expressway is a network of tolled controlled-access highways running through the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The expressway network consists of the northern route and southern route, having a total length of 772 kilometres. Running through seven states and connecting the Thailand and Singapore borders, the North–South Expressway is an important thoroughfare for local, interstate and international traffic. The expressway is part of route AH2, a designation of the Asian Highway Network.

The East Coast Expressway is an interstate controlled-access highway running parallel to the northeastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The currently operational 433-kilometre (269-mile) segment of the expressway runs between Karak, Pahang and Kuala Nerus, Terengganu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North–South Expressway Northern Route</span> Major interstate expressway in Malaysia

The North–South Expressway Northern Route North–South Expressway Northern Route is an interstate controlled-access highway running parallel to the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The 460-kilometre (290-mile) expressway forms the north section of the North–South Expressway, passing through the northwestern states of Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor. The expressway begins at the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint in Kedah where the Malaysia–Thailand border lies, and ends at Bukit Lanjan in Selangor where the expressway interchanges with the New Klang Valley Expressway. The expressway is operated by PLUS Expressways.

The Federal Route 1 is the first federal road in Malaysia, the oldest federal road in Malaysia, and among the nation's earliest public roadways ever constructed. The Federal Route 1 was the backbone of the road system in the western states of Peninsular Malaysia before being supplanted by the North–South Expressway.

The Federal Route 2 is a major east–west oriented federal highway in Malaysia. The 276.9 kilometres (172 mi) road connects Port Klang in Selangor to Kuantan Port in Pahang. The Federal Route 2 became the backbone of the road system linking the east and west coasts of Peninsula Malaysia before being surpassed by the East Coast Expressway E8.

The Kuala Lumpur–Seremban Expressway East–West Link Expressway is a main expressway in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This 8.1 km (5.0 mi) expressway links Kuala Lumpur in the north to Seremban, Negeri Sembilan in the south.

Butterworth–Kulim Expressway, BKE, Butterworth–Kulim Expressway AH140, is the only opened toll system's expressway in Penang, Malaysia. The 17 km (11 mi) expressway connects Butterworth, Penang in the west to Lunas, Kedah in the east. It is also a main route to East–West Highway via Baling, Kedah and Gerik, Perak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butterworth Outer Ring Road</span> Road in Malaysia

Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) Butterworth Outer Ring Road is a coastal expressway located in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. This 14 km (8.7 mi) expressway connects Sungai Dua in the north until Perai in the south.

The Maju Expressway (MEX) (formerly known as Kuala Lumpur–Putrajaya Expressway(KLPE) and KL–KLIA Dedicated Expressway) Maju Expressway (Malay: Lebuhraya Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya) is an expressway network in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The 26 km (16 mi)-long expressway links the Kuala Lumpur City Centre with the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, Selangor. The expressway is a backbone of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) area.

Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) is a planned expressway in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. If constructed, it will connect Gelugor in the south, near Penang Bridge to Tanjung Bungah in the north. After a mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, this project, together with Penang Monorail has been postponed indefinitely.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perai</span> Neighbourhood of Seberang Perai in Penang, Malaysia

Perai is an urban settlement in the city of Seberang Perai, Penang, Malaysia. It lies at the southern bank of the Perai River and borders Butterworth to the north. Perai gave its name to the city of Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the State of Penang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gelugor</span> Suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia

Gelugor is a suburb of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Named after a plant species, Gelugor lies along the eastern seaboard of Penang Island, between Jelutong and Sungai Dua, and nearly 5 km (3.1 mi) south of the city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Link Expressway</span> Expressway in Johore, Malaysia

The Second Link Expressway Second Link Expressway is a 47-kilometre (29-mile) controlled-access highway in Johor, Malaysia. It runs from Senai, Kulai District near the international airport to the Malaysia–Singapore Second Link at Tanjung Kupang, Johor Bahru District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prai River Bridge</span> Bridge in Perai, Butterworth Outer Ring Road

Perai River Bridge is a dual-three lane cable stayed bridge connecting the banks of the Perai River in Perai, Penang, Malaysia. It is part of the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR).

The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad or simply NSTP is a Malaysian conglomerate of publishing companies, owned by Media Prima. The NSTP publishes several newspapers, including the New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysian Expressway System</span> System of expressways in Malaysia

The Malaysian Expressway System is a network of national controlled-access expressways in Malaysia that forms the primary backbone network of Malaysian national highways. The network begins with the Tanjung Malim–Slim River tolled road which was opened to traffic on 16 March 1966, later North–South Expressway (NSE), and is being substantially developed. Malaysian expressways are built by private companies under the supervision of the government highway authority, Malaysian Highway Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lanang Bridge</span> Bridge in Jalan Lanang Barat / Jalan Teluk Assan

The Lanang Bridge, Sarawak State Route Q326, is a 1.2-km toll bridge in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. It was constructed in 2003 by a local concessionaire, Woodville Development Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of Shin Yang Group, to replace the former river ferry service crossing the Batang Rajang. The bridge, together with a series of states highways linking Sibu to Sarikei, forms an alternative route for the Sarikei-Sibu section of the Pan Borneo Highway. Built at the total cost of RM 180 million, the bridge was opened to motorists on 11 April 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penang Undersea Tunnel</span>

The Penang Undersea Tunnel is a tunnel under construction between Butterworth on the mainland and George Town on the island of Penang in northern Malaysia. Construction began in 2016. The 7.2 km tunnel will connect Butterworth, Seberang Perai in the east to George Town, Penang Island in the west. When completed in 2025, it will become the first undersea tunnel in Malaysia and the second in Southeast Asia after the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) in Singapore. The undersea tunnel is part of the Penang Roads and Tunnels project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge</span> Second highway connecting mainland and island in Penang, Malaysia

The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge, also known as the Penang Second Bridge is a dual carriageway toll bridge in Penang, Malaysia. It connects Bandar Cassia in Seberang Perai on mainland Peninsular Malaysia with Batu Maung on Penang Island. It is the second bridge to link the island to the mainland after the first Penang Bridge.

The Butterworth–Seberang Jaya Toll Road, Federal Route 4 is a 5-km non-expressway-standard toll road in Penang, Malaysia. It connects Butterworth city centre to Seberang Jaya, a township at the eastern outskirt of Butterworth. This toll road is maintained by Lingkaran Butterworth (Penang) Sdn. Bhd. as a part of the Butterworth Outer Ring Road E17 project.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bridge info". Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd. Malaysia. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  2. "Penang Bridge". PLUS Malaysia Berhad . Malaysia. Archived from the original on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Bridge details". Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd. Malaysia. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  4. "Jambatan Pulau Pinang telan $530 juta" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 20 November 1981. p. 1.
  5. "Setelah 45 tahun kini jadi kenyataan" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 1 August 1985. p. 4. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  6. "Jambatan Pulau Pinang dirasmi" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 16 September 1985. p. 6.
  7. "bridge details". Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2007.
  8. "Motorcyclists rejoice as they don't have to pay toll now". thestar.com.my. 3 November 2018.
  9. "No more bridge tolls for motorcyclists in Penang". Malay Mail. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  10. Basyir, Mohamed (January 2019). "Toll charges gone at Penang bridges, but some motorcyclists still taking ferries". nst.com.my.
  11. "The Penang Bridge". Stamps of Malaysia. 14 May 2008. Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  12. "Penang Bridge SUV Accident - It was the 5th Time!". 22 January 2019.
  13. "Car plunges into sea after collision on Penang Bridge". The Star . 20 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  14. "Missing SUV Driver that plunged into sea believed to be college student". The Star . 20 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  15. Lat (1987). "Penang Bridge". Lat and Gang. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Berita Publishing. p. 58. ISBN   978-967-969-157-3.
Template:Attached KML/Penang Bridge
KML is from Wikidata