BATU KAWAN, Nov 28 ― Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) expects the upgrading and repair work on Jambatan Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (JSAHMS) to be completed by January 20, 2017. 

JKSB managing director Datuk Mohd Ashari Alias said Phase 1 (East Bound) of the project, which begin in July and covers an area from Batu Maung on Penang Island to Batu Kawan in Seberang Perai Selatan, was completed on October 31 while Phase 2 (West Bound) started early this month.

He said Phase 2, which is to upgrade the embankment to Batu Maung and to eliminate the undulating issue at Pile Embankment No.7 (PE 7) from Km2.8 to Km3.1, was progressing well.

“The second phase of the project started on November 1. The contra flow has been activated on the East Bound (side) to facilitate traffic flow to and from Penang Island,” he said, adding that the RM12 million project was targeted for completion by Jan 20 next year at the earliest.

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Speaking to reporters during a site visit today, Mohd Ashari said it was hoped that the project, upon completion, would be able to offer users a smoother, safer and comfortable ride.

He said JKSB was also anticipating an increase in the traffic volume on the bridge based on an uptrend reported since its opening in 2014. 

The traffic volume on the bridge since its opening reached 5.2 million vehicles in 2015 while from January to October this year, it was 4.79 million. 

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Mohd Ashari also said that JKSB, as the JSAHMS concessionaire, had no plan to increase the present toll rate as per the agreement signed with the government.

“Based on the agreement, we are only allowed to propose an increase of toll rate after five years of operating the bridge,” he said.

At present, the toll rate for the JSAHMS was RM1.70 for motorcycles (Class 0); RM8.50 for cars except taxis and buses (Class 1); RM30.50 for two-axle and six-wheeler vehicles except buses (Class 2); RM70.10 for three-axle or more vehicles except buses (Class 3); RM8.50 for taxis (Class 4) and RM26.20 for buses (Class 5). ― Bernama