KUALA LUMPUR: Menteri Besar of Johor Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has officiated the opening of the Sungai Pulai Bridge and road connecting Gelang Patah with Tanjung Bin today with flagging-off public vehicles, making them the first users of the new infrastructure in Johor.
The RM800 million bridge is a public-private partnership project which includes the construction of a bridge over Sungai Pulai and a road connecting Gelang Patah in Johor Bahru to Tanjung Bin in Pontian, which will benefit residents from both districts.
MMC Corporation Bhd said the 7.5-kilometre two-way two-lane bridge boasts a 25-metre high and 100-metre-wide navigation clearance for ship passage and provides direct access from Tanjung Pelepas, Gelang Patah to Tanjung Bin, Pontian.
The new bridge will reduce travel time to just 30 minutes from the current land route, which normally takes around an hour.
Onn Hafiz said the Sungai Pulai Bridge will position Pontian as a new socio-economic hub in Johor, which is a major destination for foreign investment.
"This will also bring various employment opportunities and economic activities, increase property values, promote the development of local areas and stimulate the ecotourism industry in Tanjung Piai and Kukup, especially from Singapore.
"This economic growth goal needs to be accompanied by radical strategic planning and close cooperation between government agencies and the private sector in the implementation of a project.
"The construction of the Sungai Pulai Bridge is proof of the effectiveness of public-private cooperation in infrastructure development," he said.
Under MMC Group, Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd is the project proponent for the construction of Sungai Pulai bridge.
MMC Engineering Sdn Bhd together with joint venture partner CHEC Construction (M) Sdn Bhd is the main contractor for this Sungai Pulai Bridge.