Not your grandpa's Penang

A new urban area in Penang, Kuching Urban Transportation System news, Dalat rail revival plans, and more construction and transport news in Southeast Asia.

Greetings from Penang. I’ve had a busy week wandering around various construction sites beyond the historic George Town area. I was in the Gurney Drive area when I saw this billboard in the distance.

I thought it was an ad for Doha, perhaps a promotion related to the upcoming World Cup. As I got closer I saw the familiar brand of E&O. I realised it was an advertisement for the new urban area at the land reclamation at Gurney.

This week’s article is a round-up of the big construction projects in Penang. I’ve also updated Future Penang by adding some more listings and making a new map. The update includes The Andaman, which is the advertised E&O project.

I’ve also updated the Penang South Islands page, which now includes projected images of what the islands will supposedly look like (if it goes ahead).

Latest Posts At Future Southeast Asia

Penang construction update – 2022 edition

News

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• Siem Reap’s new airport on target for 2023 opening

• The fast-track to tackling Siem Reap’s gridlock

• Boeng Tamok Lake plot handed to general as protests continue

• Charting Cambodia’s aviation recovery, with Stephen King, Cambodia Airports

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Jabodebek LRT progress at 83.5% as cost overrun reaches Rp2.6tn

• Indonesia’s been making headway on haze. Is it a sign of clearer skies to come for Southeast Asia?

• The Nusantara Project: prospects and challenges

• Public transportation to be IKN's main public, goods transport service

[Updated: Nusantara – New Capital City of Indonesia]

• Minister reviews manufacturing of electric buses for G20 Summit

🇱🇦 Laos

• Chinese investment in Laos tops US$16 billion

• Vientiane’s iconic Nam Phou fountain to be returned to the public

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• ECRL more than 30% completed, says Dr Wee

[Updated: East Coast Rail Link]

• Sarawak Metro awards RM1.425 bln package contract for Kuching Urban Transportation System

[Updated: Autonomous Rail Transit (ART) Kuching]

• Commuters in Malaysia's Klang Valley are addicted to their cars. What can be done to encourage use of public transport?

• Bus rapid transit better for Penang

[Updated: Bayan Lepas LRT]

🇵🇭 Philippines

• 'Build! Build! Build?' Several China-backed railways yet to get funding says DOTr

• 'Japan could take over the Bicol railway'

• NAIA showdown brewing as PPP talks revived

• Expressway in Panay mulled; It’s better than railway – bizmen

[Updated: Panay Railway]

• I don’t need a car — I need the country to have a better transportation system

🇸🇬 Singapore

• DBS opens net zero building, retrofitted to include self-powered solar air-conditioning, exhaust fans

• Quieter living by the tracks: 10km of new MRT noise barriers in Ang Mo Kio, Buona Vista completed

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Thailand sets 2028 target to finish high-speed rail link with China

[Updated: Bangkok–Nong Khai High-Speed Railway]

• City readies up to 1,000 e-buses

• Transport Minister gives Koh Samui-Khanom Bridge thumbs up

[Updated: Longest Bridges In Southeast Asia]

• Raft of marinas eyed for new hub

• Thailand to offer land ownership to lure wealthy foreigners

• Bangkok chief has dig at city works for 13 year delay to new tunnel

🇹🇱 Timor-Leste

• Timor-Leste reiterates commitment and readiness for ASEAN membership

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• $1 bln project to revive French-built railway to Da Lat

[Updated: Da Lat–Thap Cham railway restoration]

• Việt Nam needs roughly $368b to develop climate-resilient, low-carbon economy: WB

• Ho Chi Minh City plans expansion of downtown pedestrian streets

• Progress of Long Thanh int’l airport project must be ensured: Deputy PM

[Updated: Long Thanh International Airport]

• HCMC airport terminal to be built in shape of ao dai

• Korea's Kumho signs deal to build $77.3-mln HCMC-Dong Nai bridge

• High-rises block Nha Trang sea views

• Floating opera house in Tây Hồ propose