A STEERING committee has been set up by the government to fast-track building of the second Penang bridge.
?We have not received official notification but I am told that the committee will be headed by former Works Ministry director-general Tan Sri Zaini Omar and various government agencies will also sit on the committee, UEM Builders Bhd managing director Datuk Ridza Abdoh Salleh told a media briefing in Penang last night. UEM Builders is the project concessionaire,
He said the high- powered committee is aimed at expediting the project, which is one of three under the Northern Corridor Economic Region.
?There are currently some issues of co-ordination and the committee is to ensure that we can have speedy and faster implantation,? Ridza said.
It is learnt that the committee has been formed since the government wants no more delays to the implementation of the new crossing.
UEM Builders project director Roslan Ibrahim when giving an update of the progress of the bridge project said, about 60 ha of land has already been cleared at Batu Kawam on mainland Penang.
?Marine test piling is on going and the procurement of major equipment has been completed,? he said.
Roslan also said that while preliminary soil investigations over water have been completed, additional marine soil investigations are being carried out and should be completed by December.
Through the China Exim Bank (The Export-Import Bank of China), the Chinese government has agreed to provide a US$800 million (RM 2.68 billion) loan to the Malaysia government with a three per cent interest rate for a loan repayment period of 20 years.
The 240 km bridge (of which 17 km will be on water) linking Penang Island and Seberang Prai after the existing Penang Bridge, will comprise 294 piers and 9,364 sections.
UEM Construction Sdn Bhd has named leading Chinese port builder and bridge construction firm China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC) as its main contractorr for the bridge project which is targeted to be opened to the Public in January 2011