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The Penang Channel Tunnel is a proposed under-sea tunnel announced by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on 29 April, 2011, during the opening of the Penang State Assembly. It is one of the eight agreements signed between Malaysia and China during the visit of the Chinese premier Wen Jiabao.
The 6.5 km cross-channel tunnel will link Gurney Drive in Penang Island with Bagan Ajam in Seberang Perai. It stems from a Memoradum of Understanding signed by the state government of Penang with the Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG). BUCG is the construction company that was involved in the construction of the Beijing National Stadium, popularly known as the Bird's Nest.
Builder of the Beijing National Stadium to build the Penang Channel Tunnel
Author: Jmex60 (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Construction of the undersea tunnel will form a vital link for traffic between the northern coast of Penang Island with locations in Northern Seberang Perai, as the central and southern parts of the island already have links in place or under construction.
I would expect that environmentalists will be coming out of the wood work to oppose any form of development on the northern coast. Let's sit tight, hold our breath.
Personally I welcome the undersea tunnel, if it can be carried out properly. Again, I do not object to building the Penang Channel Tunnel or any highways in Penang, if they are intended to smoothen traffic rather than build congestion.
As for the perennial objection that more roads leads to more cars, I hope the state government will slap a heavy toll on new highways so that those who plan to drive on them will think about unnecessary car usage.
I am totally supportive of enhancing transportation in Penang with proper expressways while making public transport affordable to all, while driving becomes an unnecessary luxury. I hope that the state government, working with the federal government will continue to improve the public transport. The implementation of the Free Penang Bridge Express Shuttle Transit (BEST Bus) is a good move.
When the Second Penang Bridge and this undersea channel tunnel are completed, I hope that free buses can also be made available. That way, commuters can leave their cars at home, and we can demonstrate that having more highways doesn't necessarily create more jams. Rather, having more highways allow people to move from A to B faster, using public transport that is cheap or even free.
Location Map
Click here to view location map of possible proposed Penang Channel Tunnel.Updates
1 May 2011: As I have expected, the NGO's have come out to oppose the undersea tunnel. This is not something that would surprise me. Questions raised include whether the tunnel will be harmful to the environment, whether it will disrupt the current or the shipping lanes. It is the duty of NGO's to raise their concerns. It is the duty of the state leadership to provide the necessary explaination over its development programmes, and not be swayed by every opposition, if it strongly believes in its objective. If the leadership is visionary, it should have the answers and support of the people.
  
   
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