KUALA LUMPUR: The Penang Second Bridge (Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge) or JSAHMS has yet to meet its objective in reducing traffic congestion at the first Penang Bridge (JPP), said the Auditor-General’s (AG) Report 2017 Series 1.
The report said this was due to its location.
In its audit of the second bridge’s operator Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB), the report revealed that consumers preferred JPP over the second bridge.
This was due to JPP’s proximity to Seberang Perai Utara and Seberang Perai Tengah with population density of 369,340 people in 2016 and with major towns such as Perai, Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam.
“The analysis of audit towards the report of traffic volume at both bridges found that there were increases in traffic volume in JPP in 2014 to 2016 between 2.4 per cent and 3.8 per cent, and the traffic at JSAHMS also increased.
“JSAHMS which was completed in March 2014 had traffic volume of 3.43 million and 4.73 million in 2014 and 2015 respectively, taking up 10.6 per cent and 13.6 per cent of the total combined traffic volume for the two bridges,” the report said, adding that the average daily traffic volume using JPP had increased from 2014 to 2016.
The report also said the rebate of 20 per cent by JPP Concessionaire Company to Penang residents had influenced the choice of Penang residents.
Besides that, JSAHMS is located 34 kilometres from the main towns which takes an estimated 30 minutes to get to the island..
“These factors have made JPP the main choice,” it said.
In feedback received from JKSB on Feb 7 this year, the company which is owned by the Finance Ministry Incorporated told the AG that the rest and relaxation area estimated to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2018 was expected to increase traffic at the JSAHMS.
“The opening of the new Bayan Lepas Expressway which is connected to JSAHMS increased traffic volume by 20 per cent,” the company said.