They were caught in traffic jam when bridge was closed for marathon.
Keywords
GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA - Fourteen tourists from Britain missed their flight back home after they were caught in a traffic snarl due to the closure of Penang Bridge.
The tourists left their Batu Ferringhi hotel at about 7am by bus but were unable to get on the bridge which had been closed for the Penang Bridge International Marathon 2009 since 2am yesterday.
The eight-hour closure had caused a traffic standstill near the two ferry terminals at Pengkalan Raja Tun Uda on the island and Pengkalan Sultan Abdul Halim on the mainland as motorists tried to use the ferries.
Asian Overland Services Tours and Travel Penang branch operating officer M. Jefri said the tourists, who were headed for the KL International Airport, had to miss their 2.30pm flight as they only managed to reach the airport at 2pm.
“The coach driver from Kuala Lumpur did not realise that the bridge was closed for the marathon.
“The tourists had to be transferred to three vans to take the ferry but they were stuck at the terminal for over an hour.
"They have had to put up an additional night in Kuala Lumpur so that other travel arrangements could be made,” he said when contacted.
Meanwhile, a bumper-to-bumper traffic stretching 1.5km from the ferry terminal in Weld Quay to the courthouse in Light Street was seen as motorists were forced to use the ferry due to the bridge closure.
State traffic police operations chief Deputy Supt K. Wari said the jam was cleared within 30 minutes after the bridge and Jelutong Expressway were reopened at about 10am.
“The jam this year is considered minimal compared to previous years. The cars were queuing for their turn to get on the ferry.
“Although there was a ferry every seven minutes, there was still a queue due to the school holidays,” he said, adding that the roads around Queensbay Mall were closed from 2am.
Other motorists caught in the jam included vistors from other states, workers and even four wedding entourages heading for the island.
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