GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA: If all goes well, Penangites will be able to cross the second Penang bridge to a new world-class golf resort in Batu Kawan, modelled after the famed resort town of Santa Monica in California.

Representatives from the bridge contractor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and South Korean company DK Enc Company Ltd expressed the hope for closely-timed launches as both projects are scheduled for completion in 2012.

"We are currently doing market studies in the related area and we hope to start work on the technical details in about five months," DK Enc chairman Jang Chin-hyuk told a press conference at Komtar yesterday.

He said: "If all goes well, the golf course will be finished within the next two years with additional development in the same area completed in the next four to five years."

Jang, who is leading a five-man delegation to the state, said he hoped to design the 162ha area at the northern tip of Batu Kawan into a famed resort town like Santa Monica.

"We are thinking about a theme park and possibly, a water taxi service from the island to the resort," he said, adding that the entire project would cost US$100mil (RM365mil).

"We are working with a local company to conduct a joint venture for the project but the details are still being ironed out.

"The funds to build the resort will come from South Korea but with the economic climate being not very good, we have many other sources available just in case," he said.

CHEC deputy chief economist and project director (Package One) of the second Penang bridge Chang Yun-bo said work was going well and he was confident that their portion of the bridge would be completed by the end of 2011.

"After starting work last year, preparation work has been completed.

"Along with the other two packages which take care of the bridge's superstructure and land works, we are confident that the whole bridge will be completed on schedule by May 2012," Chang said.