Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge

Overview

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.

Route background

The Kilometre Zero of the expressway is located at Batu Kawan Interchange, at its interchange with the North-South Expressway Northern Route E1, the main expressway of the central of Peninsular Malaysia.

Planning

In the year 1995, the idea to build a second bridge linking Seberang Perai to Penang Island was suggested by the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia's Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad 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.

Construction

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. Newly elected 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On July 2008, Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi reported that the loan for the bridge risked being withdrawn if the shareholder agreement between UEM Builders Berhad and its joint-venture partner CHEC was not inked by August 2008.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.

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.

Opening

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. The bridge was official named as Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge after the fourteen Yang di-Pertuan Agong, 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.

Penang Second Bridge ramp at Batu Maung interchange collapse

On 6 June 2013, a ramp leading to the still under construction Penang Second Bridge at Batu Maung interchange collapsed at around 7:00 pm, burying a car and two motorcycles under the debris. One person was killed in the incident. The ramp which is part of the Package 3A of the bridge project was built by the contractor Cergas Murni Sdn Bhd and not UEM Builders Berhad.

Bridge

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. It was to help motorists keep their attention on the road while driving.

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

Land expressway

The land expressway, Batu Kawan Expressway is the first Malaysia to be designed based on an upgraded secondary consolidation creterion of 50mm settlement in the next 20 years.

Overview

The tolls will be collected by a private concession company, Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB), which is similar to the toll scheme for the Penang Bridge. Fees are charged one way when crossing the bridge from the mainland to Penang Island. There is no toll imposed for mainland-bound motorists coming from the island. The Bandar Cassia-JKSB Toll Plaza will only be charged on motorist coming from Exit 2801 Bandar Cassia-JKPP Interchange of the Persiaran Bandar Cassia. Motorist coming from Exit 2800 Bandar Cassia-NSE Interchange of the North-South Expressway Northern Route will be charged at the Bandar Cassia-PLUS Toll Plaza. During opening month of March from 2 March until 31 March 2014, there was a toll free for a month and on 1 April 2014, the toll collection for the bridge has now begun.

Penang Second Bridge Integrated Toll Plaza/Bandar Cassia-PLUS Toll Plaza (Gateway Arch Toll Plaza)

The Penang Second Bridge Integrated Toll Plaza or Bandar Cassia-PLUS Toll Plaza or also known as Gateway Arch Toll Plaza is a main toll plaza for Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge in Bandar Cassia, Penang, Malaysia. Upon completion in February 2014, Penang Second Bridge Integrated Toll Plaza would be the largest toll plaza in Malaysia, with the Sungai Besi Toll Plaza being the second. The Penang Second Bridge Integrated Toll Plaza is Malaysia's longest non-vehicular span steel arch structure shape to celebrate this gateway concept and become an iconic feature of the design and it is similar to Gateway Arch in St Louis, Missouri, United States. Its toll complexes are the first in Malaysia to be awarded with a Platinum rating in the Green Building Index (GBI).

Toll rates

(Starting 1 April 2014)

Penang Second Bridge Integrated Toll Plaza or Bandar Cassia-PLUS Toll Plaza (Gateway Arch Toll Plaza) (For Bandar Cassia-NSE Interchange (North-South Expressway Northern Route) - Penang Second Bridge bound only)

Toll for the NSE-Penang Second Bridge bound, the Batu Kawan Expressway will be collected from users exiting from North-South Expressway Northern Route (PLUS Expressways) at Bandar Cassia-PLUS Toll Plaza going to Penang Island via the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge or to Bandar Cassia and users entering the North-South Expressway Northern Route (PLUS Expressways) at Bandar Cassia Toll Plaza.

Penang Second Bridge Toll Plaza or Bandar Cassia-JKSB Toll Plaza (For Bandar Cassia Interchange - Penang Second Bridge bound only)

Users from the Mainland (Batu Kawan) going to the Penang Island (Batu Maung) via the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge, the toll will be collected at Bandar Cassia-JKSB Toll Plaza and Bandar Cassia-PLUS Toll Plaza (one way). Since 1 June 2016, all electronic toll transactions have been conducted using Touch 'n Go and SmartTAGs.

JKSB Ronda

JKSB Ronda is the highway patrol unit to patrol along the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge and land expressways and also to provide assistance to commuters on the bridge. The current highway patrol vehicles are the Japanese made Toyota Hilux and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, the four-seater electric vehicle, with similar dimensions of a Perodua Viva, is able to travel 150 km after an eight-hour full charge. Seven charging stations were also set up at the toll plaza on the mainland, two of them being rapid chargers which are able to give an 80 percent charge in 30 minutes.

Rest and service areas (R&R)

The future two rest and service areas (R&R) is located at Batu Kawan on the mainland. It will be built in six months' time. The plan had been the floating rest and service area on the middle of the bridge. However, the plan was scrapped due to high cost.

List of interchanges

Legend:

Major events

Interesting facts

Record achievements

Postage stamps

The commemorative postage stamps to mark the opening of the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge on 1 March 2014 was issued by Pos Malaysia on 31 December 2014. The denominations for these stamps were RM 1.20.

Bridge in popular culture