The Second Penang Bridge connecting Batu Kawan and Batu Maung will have a positive impact on local residents and provide a catalyst for rapid economic and social growth.

What was once an area covered in oil palm plantations has now turned into a focal point for investors with exciting developments in the pipeline where it will one day become a thriving township.

Those living in the area particularly in Batu Kawan are especially ecstatic with the government’s decision for constructing the bridge which will inadvertently change the landscape and provide opportunities for the people to increase their income.

Petty trader S. Kumar said there have been considerable changes in the area compared to six years ago and he hoped this rapid development will bring about positive changes to him and his family.

“This area was once filled overgrown with jungle and oil palm plantations. There wasn’t even a proper road. All that has changed with the construction of the Second Penang Bridge, there has been rapid growth in the area. An industrial area has also been set up. This has greatly helped my business,” he said.

With the completion and opening of the Second Penang bridge today many believe it will provide the catalyst to finally open the southern part of mainland Penang and its periphery towns.

Trader Low Nam Ang said rapid development in the area with housing estates, commercial areas, an industrial zone and even the Batu Kawan Stadium will one day turn it into the next satellite township, perhaps even bigger than the mixed development and industrial area of Bayang Baru on the island.

Now Penangites can now stand proud with the opening of the bridge, providing the island state with another famous landmark.

It is also the longest bridge in the country and third-longest in the world.

The 24km dual-carriage toll bridge – of which 17km is above the sea and seven kilometres over land – was designed with environmental sustainability in mind and links Batu Kawan on the mainland to Batu Maung on the island.

It is expected to reduce congestion on the existing Penang Bridge by 25 percent.

The RM4.5 billion bridge, a Federal government project, is the longest in Southeast Asia and is expected to be able to handle 100,000 vehicles daily.

The bridge was originally planned for completion on Nov 8 last year and to be opened to the public by the end of November, but was postponed to this year.