Jokowi Has Inaugurated It, The New Balang Island Bridge Can Be Used By The Community In December 2024

PANAJAM PASER - After being inaugurated by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Sunday, July 28, 2024, the Balang Island Bridge in North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, cannot be used by the public. The National Road Implementation Center (BPJN) said that the Balang Island bridge would only be opened to the public in December 2024.

The Balang Island Bridge is claimed to be the second-longest bridge in Indonesia, with a length of up to 1,750 meters. Currently, the progress of the construction of the Balang Island Bridge which began in 2015 has been declared 100% complete and only leaves the finishing section.

Director of Bridge Development of BPJN Wida Nur Faidah said, after being inaugurated directly by President Jokowi, the Balang Island bridge will be a connecting road between Balikpapan City and North Penajam Paser Regency.

The most important thing is that the Balang Island Bridge is a connecting road between the City of Balikpapan and the Central Core Area of the Government of the Capital City of the Archipelago (KIPP IKN).

"This bridge has been built for a long time, one of the goals is to connect the City of Balikpapan with North Penajam Paser Regency. In addition, what is important now is to connect Balikpapan with the core area of the government center," said Wida, Tuesday, July 30.

Wilda explained that although the Balang Island Bridge had been inaugurated by President Jokowi, his party had not been able to operate the bridge to the public. This is because the short road from the Balikpapan City side is still under construction.

In addition, the Balang Island Bridge, which will cost around Rp. 1.43 trillion, will also be connected to the Balikpapan-IKN Toll Road, so that this bridge can only be opened to the public and operated in December 2024.