Riau Provincial Government Builds A 1.5 Km Bridge Connecting Bengkalis Island With Tanjung Padang Island

PEKANBARU - The Riau provincial government (Pemprov) will build a 1.5 km long bridge that will connect Bengkalis Island with Tanjung Padang Island, Meranti Islands.

Head of the Riau Province Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing, Settlement and Land Areas (PUPR-PKPP) Arif Setyawan said, the Detail Engineering Design (DED) of the bridge was auctioned in 2022 for IDR7.4 billion.

"For the construction of a bridge that is quite long and will also be built over the sea, it is hoped that the physical construction of the bridge is expected to start in 2023, especially since the bridge that is built is quite long, so it must be done as soon as possible if all the procedures have been completed," said Head of the PUPR-PKPP Office of Riau Province. , Arif Setyawan reported by Antara, Wednesday, April 13.

Meanwhile, Riau Governor Syamsuar said, with the bridge, it is hoped that it can support public transportation access as well as improve the economy of the surrounding community.

"Hopefully, it will be easier for people to cross, bringing agricultural products and the selling price will also be higher," he said.

To the people of Bengkalis, the Governor of Riau also advised them to continue to explore the potential of the area, even though the existing land is peat land, but it can be used for the agricultural sector such as planting pineapple and taro.

"Don't assume that peatlands cannot produce, in Siak many have succeeded in growing pineapples on peatlands and pineapples can be marketed out of Riau," he said.