The Penang government’s controversial undersea tunnel project which was unveiled in the year 2011 looks likely to be scrapped for an elevated bridge that would be much less costly in terms of funding and environmental impact.

The consortium for the tunnel project has proposed replacing it with a 5km elevated bridge which is more viable.

A bridge will be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than an undersea tunnel.

It is understood that the bridge alternative would cost about RM3 billion which is about half the cost of the RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel.

An undersea tunnel would have to be buried deep beneath the sea. If not it would hinder the passage of vessels entering the port.

Currently, the navigational channel depth at the Penang Port is about 11m and it has to be deepened to 15m before big vessels can enter.

The newly-proposed elevated bridge will connect Gurney Drive and Jalan Teluk Ayer Tawar, linking the bridge to the proposed Northern Corridor Highways (NCH) that will be built under the 12th Malaysia Plan.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE