ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor plans to build a third link bridge in Sungai Rengit in Pengerang, Kota Tinggi district, to ease the traffic congestions at the Johor Causeway and the Second Link Crossing.

Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian said the bridge would link the southeast part of Johor with Pulau Ubin in Singapore.

He said the state government was in talks with a company which had shown a strong interest in undertaking the project.

"If everything goes as planned, we could see the bridge taking place within the next three to four years," said Osman.

He made the revelation during the ground-breaking ceremony of the RM162mil Gerbang Nusajaya Interchange, a project by UEM Sunrise Bhd and Mulpha International Bhd here, on Thursday (Aug 30).

Osman said the project could be implemented under the Private Public Cooperative Unit (Ukas) of the Prime Minister's Department.

"We need to get approval from the Federal Government on the project, and we will also talk with Singapore on the third link bridge," he said.

Osman said the Sungai Rengit-Pulau Ubin route was suitable as it was shorter in terms of the length for the bridge, which would be at about 3km.

He said the plan was that from Pulau Ubin, there would be an undersea tunnel for motorists to reach the Singapore mainland.

Osman said among the components for the third bridge would be common immigration checkpoints for both Malaysia and Singapore instead of separate checkpoints like at the Johor Causeway in Johor Baru and the Second Link Crossing in Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah.

He said the project would further boost development and economic activities in Pengerang, on top of the on-going multi-billion ringgit integrated petrochemical complex.

"We want to spread development to other parts of Johor and not only within Iskandar Malaysia," added Osman.