Private motorists will now only pay RM7 to use any of the two Penang bridges as the toll rate for the Jambatan Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah (Second Penang Bridge) has been reduced to RM7 from RM8.50, matching the toll rate for the first bridge, beginning 1 January 2020.
Since its opening in 2014, the second bridge has provided safe passage for 32.6 million vehicles with numbers climbing an average of 32 per cent annually. In 2014, 3.4 million vehicles used the bridge, climbing to 4.8 million in 2016 and 8.1 million in 2017. Peak figures were reported in 2018 as 9.8 million vehicles crossed it and as of November 2019, 9.5 million vehicles used the link. With the reduction in toll rates, more users are expected for 2020.
The second bridge management is hoping the reduction in toll rate will attract more users to the bridge, leading to a decrease in traffic on the first bridge that’s still the preferred choice for most island-bound motorists.