Georgetown is the thriving capital of Penang located on the island of the state. Best renowned for its food, culture and history, Georgetown earned the UNESCO World Heritage status in the year 2008. As a state that attracts both locals and foreigners for its unique living environment, it is highly populated with approximately 1,490 people for every square kilometre.
Being the capital of Penang, Georgetown enjoys great accessibility. The first Penang Bridge that links Butterworth and Gelugor directly is only 20 minutes away from Georgetown; and the second Penang Bridge that is also known as Sultan Abdul Halim Shah Bridge links Bandar Cassia in Seberang Perai from the mainland to Batu Maung on the island.
Linking Georgetown to Batu Maung in approximately 20 kilometres is the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu highway, where less than approximately 15 minutes away is the Penang International Airport.
2nd Penang Bridge or known as Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah bridge view during dawn
Apart from the highways, the other major roads on the island includes Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, which was named after Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusuff Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah, the Ruler of Perak. One of the longest main roads in Penang, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah begins at the Gelugor Roundabout and comes to an end at the Bayan Lepas Flyover.
Connecting Georgetown to the coastal towns of Tanjung Tokong and Batu Ferringhi is Jalan Tanjung Tokong which connects to Jalan Batu Ferringhi. Due to the touristic nature of both the neighbourhoods, both roads are usually prone to traffic congestion, especially during peak hours and tourist seasons.
Traffic congestion is in fact a common occurrence during peak tourist seasons, hence there have been proposals for new roads in Penang to improve connectivity.
Among the suggestions brought up is a 6.5km undersea tunnel from Gurney Drive to Bagan Ajam in Butterworth, a 4.2km expressway bypass from Persiaran Gurney to Persiaran Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu, and a 4.6km expressway and bypass from the Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Highway to Bandar Baru Air Itam. In an effort to improve connectivity to the less explored back part of the island, there is also a proposed 4-lane 12km long road linking Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi to Teluk Bahang.
While there have been proposals to build either tram or train lines on this picturesque island, there have been much debate as locals fear that the construction will ruin the historical buildings. Instead, the government has done a good job at ensuring that public transportation on the island is highly efficient.
As compared to the Klang Valley, public transportation in Penang is much more effective. Every town is connected seamlessly to the city, island and mainland. Additionally for tourists, there is the Penang Hop-On Hop-Off bus service that runs from 9am to 8pm daily and covers both the city route and beach route. Giving tourists flexibility and the leisure of time, these busses provide tickets for single trips, tickets with 24-hour validity and 48-hour validity.
With the increasing number of visitors to Penang and a large number of people interested in moving to the state, the Penang government is looking to further improve transportation services in the future.