The replacement of the Scenic Bridge project with the new elevated road link (Medium Term Link) design in the Gerbang Selatan Bersepadu (GSB) project will benefit the Government and the Rakyat in various ways, both tangible and intangible.
The benefits of the GSB project incorporating the Scenic Bridge basically remain intact with the implementation of the Medium Term Link and these benefits can be described under the following categories:
Traffic Dispersal;
Economy;
Tourism;
Environmental; and
Social and Political.
TRAFFIC DISPERSAL
Provides total solution to overall traffic dispersal scheme in Johor Bahru in tandem with current Johor Bahru Central Structure Plan.
Forms a strategic complement to the Johor Southern Corridor development masterplan.
Helps divert international or “through traffic” (i.e. traffic from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur ) away from the JB Central Business District, thus reducing the chronic traffic congestion in JB City and delays originating at the Causeway.
Direct benefits to the users (i.e. all vehicles users and the Rakyat) include cutback in travelling time, saving in vehicle operating cost, improved traffic safety and increase in travel comfort.
ECONOMY
Complements the major development projects in Southern Johor such as Bandar Nusajaya Development.
Serves as an impetus to Johor economy and stimulates business generation and expansion, directly and indirectly.
Project will enhance Johor’s international competitiveness with efficient transportation link.
Provides employment and business opportunities during construction and further opportunities for operation and maintenance upon completion.
TOURISM
Strengthens and supports generation of tourism industries which will help boost hotels, retail, leisure transportation, F&B and many other related activities.
Improves the comfort level of the Causeway users (i.e. estimated 69 million annually) and hence the attractiveness to visit Malaysia to the estimated 9 million of tourists using the Causeway annually. This in turn will also help increase the foreign exchange earnings for the country.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Improved air quality and noise reduction resulting from better traffic conditions.
Water flow and thus improvement in water quality can still be achieved by refurbishing the existing culverts at the Causeway.
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
Inter-relates to all the benefits mentioned above, which ultimately improves the quality of lives of the Rakyat.
Elevates the socio-economic and political status of the Rakyat, thus facilitates the development of human capital growth.
Direct benefits involve the relocation on the Lumba Kuda Flat (1,560 families) and Bukit Chagar Flat (992 families) to a new resettlement housing.
Improves bilateral relationships with Singapore where conflicts on the Bridge issues are avoided.
In summary, even with the cancellation of the Scenic Bridge implementation, all the GSB project benefits will still be achieved with the new Permanent Link design, with the exception of the benefits of navigation channel. This new design also avoids the potential legal issues with Singapore which could have potentially prevented the original project completion.
