Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge

Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge 

SOURCE:GOOGLE

The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge or Penang Second Bridge E28 is a dual carriageway toll bridge in Penang, Malaysia. It connects Bandar Cassia (Batu Kawan) 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 total length of the bridge is 24 km (15 mi) with length over water at 16.9 km (10.5 mi), making it the longest bridge in Malaysia and the longest in Southeast Asia. China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC), a main contractor for the second bridge was expected to start work on the second Penang bridge in November 2007 and complete the project in 2011, but the completion date was then postponed to May 2012, and later to February 2014.Construction started in November 2008. To reduce the cost of construction, its design was then modified to resemble the first cable stayed Penang Bridge. The bridge has been built with a large loan from the People's Republic of China to continue and maintain the economic relationship between China and Malaysia. The bridge was officially opened on 1 March 2014 at 20:30 MST and was named after the fourteenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the late Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah of Kedah and was assigned with the route number E28.

The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge is a High Impact Project (HIP) launched under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. Being a High Impact Project, it is seen as a key catalyst in the socio-economic development of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) of Malaysia. The project is being delivered by a special purpose Concession Company formed by the Government of Malaysia, Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB). The bridge measuring a total of 24 km in length is being constructed by UEM Builders Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the UEM Group Malaysia, as well as China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a subsidiary of the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). Construction of the bridge, linking Batu Kawan on the mainland and Batu Maung on Penang Island, began in November 2008 and is projected completed on February 2014. The bridge was opened to traffic on 2 March 2014.The E28 expressway consists of the bridge and a land expressway linking the bridge to the North–South Expressway Northern Route E1, the main expressway of Peninsular Malaysia.

SOURCE:GOOGLE

The Kilometre Zero of the expressway is located at its interchange with the North–South Expressway Northern Route E1. The westbound lanes towards the bridge feature a collector-express lanes system, where the collector lanes have an interchange at Exit 2801 to Bandar Cassia and Batu Kawan while the express lanes continue uninterrupted to the bridge. The bridge and expressway end in Batu Maung on Penang Island at the interchange with Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.

The idea to build a second bridge linking Seberang Perai to Penang Island was suggested in 1995 by the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia's Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the 3rd Chief Minister of Penang's Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon. In August 2006, the Malaysian federal government unveiled a plan to build the Penang Second Bridge in the Ninth Malaysia Plan. On 12 November 2006, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Penang Second Bridge was performed by the 5th Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

SOURCE:GOOGLE

After months of soil survey work and test piling work, CHEC and UEM announced that the project was on track for completion in 2011. Construction work was expected to begin in January 2008.On April 2008, the government announced that the project was to be delayed by 9 months due to land acquisition, design issues, and also the rising costs of building materials.Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng proposed a toll discount for any delays on the project and also expressed disappointment regarding the construction delay.

On July 2008, Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi reported that the loan for the bridge risked being withdrawn if the shareholder agreement between UEM Builders Berhad and its joint-venture partner CHEC was not inked by August 2008. It was reported that there were disagreements between the two parties on the apportionment of the cost of building the bridge although the issue was expected to be resolved quickly due to UEM having a variation on the price on its portion.

SOURCE:GOOGLE

On 8 November 2008, the construction of the Penang Second Bridge by CHEC finally commenced.

On 3 October 2012, media reports indicated that the bridge was 84% complete, and that the bridge was due to be completed approximately two months ahead of the deadline of September 2013.On 20 April 2013, the final closure of the cable stayed bridge at the main navigational span of the Penang Second Bridge was completed and thus signified the completion of the construction of the bridge and physically connecting Batu Maung on the Island and Batu Kawan on the Mainland.

On 30 April 2013, the sixth Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak became the country’s first leader to use the 24 km Penang Second Bridge to cross from the island to the mainland to attend a function in Kepala Batas, Seberang Perai.The bridge had been planned for completion on 8 November 2013 and to be opened to the public by the end of November. However, the opening day of 8 November 2013 was postponed and the bridge would be opened to traffic on 1 March 2014.

SOURCE:GOOGLE

The opening ceremony of the Penang Second Bridge was held at 20:30 MST on 1 March 2014 and was officially opened by the Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak.[14] The bridge was official named as Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge after the fourteenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the late Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah of Kedah.At midnight on 2 March 2014, the bridge was opened to traffic at 00:01 MST after the official opening ceremony.

SOURCE:GOOGLE

The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge is designed based on the double "S" curvy concept due to the geological reasons.The numerous "S"-like curves along the 24 km stretch are a requirement under the Road Safety Audit.

The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge is the longest bridge in the world installed with High Damping Natural Rubber (HDNR) Bearing, an effective seismic isolation system that enables the bridge to withstand high intensity earthquakes. The bridge is the first in Malaysia to be installed with seismic expansion joints, which will allow movements during an earthquake.

Bridge specifications

Overall length: 24 km (15 mi)

Length over water: 16.9 km (10.5 mi)

Main span: Length – 250 m

Height clearance (above water): 30 m

Number of vehicle lanes: 2 + 1 for motorcycles (each direction)

Targeted date to be opened to the public: 2 March 2014

Overall cost: RM 4.5 Billion

Average time taken to drive from Batu Kawan to Batu Maung: 20 mins

Proposed speed limit on bridge: 80 km/h (50 mph)

Percentage of local contents to be used: 60%