Iconic bridge to be upgraded at no cost to Penang govt

GEORGE TOWN: The iconic overhead pedestrian bridge near Komtar will be upgraded with escalators, lifts and a new facade in a RM6 million project.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the project will not be funded by the state as Ensignia Construction Sdn Bhd will bear the cost as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) work.
He nonetheless said the company has been granted a 25 year concession on advertising rights on the bridge in order to recoup some of the costs.
Lim said the concession was subject to conditions set by the Penang Island Municipal Council.
He said this included 20% of advertising space reserved for the state government to display their messages while 5% of advertising revenue would be channeled back to the Council.
"Work begins on Feb 5 and is expected to take about nine months to a year," he said during the launch of the project yesterday.
The bridge which connects pedestrians between Jalan Penang, Jalan Burma and Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong was built in 1993 by the Council at a cost of RM1.25 million.
It is affectionately known by Penang residents as the "octopus bridge" due to the four entry and exit points.
Work includes installing glass panels as well as lifts and escalators for better accessibility.
Lim said the Council had conducted a month long survey in May 2014 and found that 70% of 138 respondents had wanted the authorities to retain the bridge and not tear it down.
"Since a majority wanted the bridge retained, the state decided to retain and upgrade the overhead pedestrian bridge," he said.