Malaysia's "half bridge" to Singapore, which it is constructing even though its neighbour has not approved plans to build the other half, could be finished by 2009, reports said today.

Deputy Works Minister Mohamed Zin Mohamed said during a visit to southern Johor state that five percent of the preliminary work had been completed and that all the construction would be carried out on Malaysian territory.

"Based on the technical report, briefing and site visit, I am convinced the bridge can be fully completed in 36 months," he said according to the state Bernama news agency.

Malaysia caused a stir in January by announcing it was going ahead with the project to replace the 80-year-old causeway that currently links the two countries, even though Singapore has not agreed to build its half.

Since then, both sides have said they want to speed up talks to resolve the issue.

The new Malaysian half-bridge will carry vehicles some 25 metres (82 feet) above the strait - allowing ships to pass beneath - before curving and descending to link up with the causeway from Singapore at the sea border between the two countries.

Outstanding problem

Mohamed Zin reportedly told the Star daily that the bridge over Malaysia's half of the Johor Strait will have an "attachment" at its tail end that will allow Singapore to link up if it decides to demolish its side of the causeway.

Malaysia and Singapore have squabbled for years over a variety of issues but while other bilateral feuds have been settled amid a thawing in relations over the past year, the bridge remains an outstanding problem.

There is already a modern bridge bypassing urban centers linking the two countries. But the 1,050-metre causeway route, which leads directly into Malaysia's Johor Bahru city, is still favoured by many motorists.