Penang’s LRT Will Extend To Butterworth Via Rail Bridge

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced that Penang's first RM10 billion LRT line will feature a cross-channel link in the form of a rail bridge that will connect the island directly to Butterworth.

According to him, the bridge will span the North Channel and terminate at Penang Sentral in Seberang Perai, which is next to the Butterworth KTM station and home to the ferry and bus terminals.

The LRT line from Komtar to Butterworth was originally supposed to be connected by an underwater tunnel. Putrajaya took over the 29km LRT project last year, with MRT Corp leading the charge. Previously, the state government was in charge of this project.

According to Chow, MRT Corp disclosed the most recent planned alignment during recent weeks' negotiations with the state government.

A cross-channel underwater link will eventually connect Seberang Perai to the subterranean LRT stations in George Town, as previously announced by the transport ministry and MRT Corp.

In a later phase of the LRT network, Seberang Perai would have an LRT line that ran the entire length of the mainland from Kepala Batas to Simpang Ampat.