Penang Third Link Bridge study to go before port commission
The state is considering a northward realignment to account for Penang Port’s expansion and traffic congestion around Gurney Bay.
Design work on the proposed Penang Third Link Bridge remains at the conceptual stage, with findings due to be submitted to the Penang Port Commission (PPC) for its views, State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said.
Addressing the state assembly, Zairil said Penang had authorised a realignment study using a bridge design as an alternative to the undersea tunnel. The proposal would move the route northwards to fit Penang Port’s expansion plans without interfering with shipping routes or port operations, while also considering congestion in and around Gurney Bay.
He said implementation decisions would take account of engineering feasibility, financial implications, mobility needs, maritime safety and long-term socio-economic benefits. The tunnel proposal under the Penang Transport Master Plan envisages a 6.5km connection from Gurney Drive to Bagan Ajam.
For the North Coastal Paired Road, Zairil said a section of the planned Tanjung Bungah–Teluk Bahang route was being reassessed for technical suitability, local sensitivities, population density and soil erosion risks. Sub-agreement terms were being finalised, alongside an environmental impact assessment covering part of the new alignment.
The road project falls within a package awarded in 2013 that includes a tunnel and three major roads. The planned 10.61km highway has an 8.41km land section and a coastal viaduct measuring 2.2km.
Work is expected to start in 2026 and finish by 2031. Once completed, the road is expected to bring peak-hour travel on the Tanjung Bungah–Teluk Bahang route down to seven minutes, compared with 30 to 45 minutes.
