In the letter made available by the Chief Minister’s Office, Lim hoped Fadillah could meet him and talk about the roadmap towards building a third bridge by 2027 instead of an undersea tunnel.

Lim said two weeks ago that he had told Fadillah he was free to meet up, but was told that the latter would only be available after Hari Raya Puasa.

Lim explained that the undersea tunnel was mooted following “difficulties in getting approval” from the Federal Government to build a third crossing between George Town and Butterworth.

He said the bridge, if approved in principle by the Works Ministry, would be fully funded by the State Government, and would be toll free.

“No federal funds are requested for the project, but it would definitely be more economical for us to build a bridge than an undersea tunnel,” Lim said in the letter.

He said the idea of a third crossing would spur the economic growth of North Seberang Prai.

Lim said with the two other districts on the mainland having their respective bridges to Penang island, it would only be fair to have another crossing for Butterworth, which is the principle town on Penang’s mainland.

Related story: Let’s have eight-eyed meeting on bridge, Lim tells Fadillah