Drop in number of Penang Bridge users

THE number of motorists using the Penang Bridge to get to the island last week is slightly lower in comparison with the week before the opening of Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge.

Penang Works, Utilities and Transportation Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng said he came to this conclusion after viewing statistics obtained from the Penang Bridge operator.

“There is a drop in the number of vehicles travelling from the mainland to the island at the toll,” he said.

According to statistics Lim provided, the number of vehicles that used the Penang Bridge to go to the island during the last week of February (Feb 22 to Feb 28) was 552,046, and 489,767 from March 2 to Sunday.

Between March 2 and Sunday, 163,989 motorists used the second bridge to get from the mainland in Batu Kawan to Batu Maung.

“The first link recorded a sharp drop of heavy vehicles. However, it is still early and the expectation of reducing the traffic congestion on the first link by 20% to 25% has yet to be met,” he said when contacted.