GEORGE TOWN: Construction of the second Penang bridge is running ahead of schedule.
As such, the bridge is expected to be completed two months before November 2013.
“Some of the packages are ahead of schedule while some are behind, but on average the bridge is 65% complete,” said Works Minister Datuk Seri Shaziman Abu Mansor.
The second Penang bridge taking shape, as seen from the island side of the project. The bridge is expected to be ready two months ahead of the November 2013 completion date. - CHIN CHENG YEANG / The Star He described this as a good “buffer” for the contractor ahead of the monsoon season.
“There are many factors when it comes to projects of this size and this one is being conducted in the middle of the sea.
“If conditions are favourable, construction may finish two months early,” Shaziman said during a visit to the bridge's Pier 90 where work on the superstructure is currently in progress.
He added that construction was targeted to reach 70% by the end of the year with the overall cost of the bridge unchanged at RM4.5bil.
The construction of the RM4.5bil second Penang Bridge is expected to be completed by September 2013. Shaziman expressed disappointment that there was no industrial trainee working on the second Penang bridge this year.
“I have asked the implementing agency to get in touch with universities that have engineering schools to send their students to this project.
“Last year, we had more than 50 university students doing their practical training here,” said Shaziman, adding that he would get in touch with the Higher Education Ministry on the matter.
He said the experience of working on sizable projects like the second Penang bridge was invaluable for students.
“We want the local workforce to benefit as much as possible from this project,” he said, urging companies involved in the construction to hire more local skilled workers.
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