 GEORGE TOWN: The opening of the second Penang bridge has drawn a huge influx of cars into the state, especially on the island. Weekenders took advantage of the off-day to enjoy a ride on the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge, which was officially launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Traffic flow was at a moderate pace from the island to the mainland but traffic came to a standstill from the mid navigational span of the bridge heading towards Batu Maung on the island due to the huge inflow of vehicles from Batu Maung. The number of vehicles on the Penang bridge were lower than usual as many took advantage of the toll-free second link. A disgruntled driver who declined to be named said that he arrived at the Batu Kawan toll plaza at about 11pm on Saturday. “It was chaotic at both the toll plazas in Batu Kawan and Bandar Cassia. There was no traffic control. “It was a very tiring experience, taking me at least three hours to drive to the Penang island the moment it was opened to the public. “Vehicles were crawling at a bumper-to-bumper (speed) and some even had the nerve to use the emergency lane. There were no respect to basic road courtesies at all,” he said. Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB), which is tasked with maintaining the bridge, was unable to provide the exact number of vehicles that had crossed the bridge since it was open to the public on a free flow basis. Businessman Loh Nam Ang, 41, from Simpang Ampat was the first motorist to cross the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge at about 1am. It was also good timing for Wilfred Ang, 29, who returned to Penang for a short trip. “Although I have a flight to catch in the evening, I could not resist an escapade to the bridge on the morning after it was opened. “I was really excited. Sadly, the view was slightly obstructed due to the haze. However, the bridge is a great gift for my fellow Penangites and I look forward to trying it again the next time,” said the engineer. For Chin Zhao Liang, 23, and his family members who were planning to cross the second Penang bridge on their way to Kuala Lumpur in the evening, their excitement was dampened when they found the route was congested with cars. “We took another route back to the first bridge. It was a disappointment that we did not manage to try it out, since we are proud to have a new landmark here,” he said. -The Star.
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