Finally, the second Penang bridge will take off. The Malaysian Prime Minister DAtuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is launching it on Nov 12.

And when it is completed, together with the existing Penang bridge, will escort my house (my house is flanked by both bridges one on each side), and hopefully this will set the house price sky-roketting.

To get the full details, read on the article from Malaysia news agency, Bernama, below.

SECOND BRIDGE TO SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH, SAYS KOH

PENANG, Nov 9 (Bernama) — The construction of the second Penang
bridge, costing RM2.7 billion, will generate the state’s economic growth
and overcome traffic congestion on the present bridge, Chief Minister Tan
Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said.

He said the 24 kilometre long bridge, to link Batu Kawan at South
Seberang Perai and Batu Maung on the island, would not only help spur
economic growth in Penang but also Perak and Kedah.

“This project is important not only to Penang but also the northern
corridor area,” he told reporters after the opening of a new building for
Multitest Electronic Systems (Penang) Sdn Bhd here today.

He said implementation of the project would provide income for
companies involved in the construction industry, like suppliers of building
materials, equipment, contractors and workers involved.

The presence of foreign engineers and expert involved in the project,
expected to take four years to complete, willl also have an impact on the
state’s economy, he added.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is scheduled to
officiate the ground-breaking ceremony for the bridge project this Sunday.
Koh said the construction of the proposed second bridge was welcomed by
the people in the state as it would help improve traffic and transportation
system in Penang.

According to statistics, about 100,000 vehicles use the Penang bridge
on normal days and 140,000 vehicles on weekends.

Koh said traffic congestion in the state would also be overcome with
the construction of the monorail project and the Penang Outer Ring Road
(PORR) project. - BERNAMA