Yogyakarta City Government Changes Access To Malioboro Due To The Closure Of The Kewek Bridge

JAKARTA - The Yogyakarta City Government (Pemkot), DIY, changed access to vehicles to the Malioboro area after the Kewek Bridge was officially closed starting Wednesday because the bridge conditions were increasingly critical.

Yogyakarta Mayor Hasto Wardoyo said the traffic engineering scheme had been formulated and received the approval of Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X.

"Like the original scenario and we have also presented it in front of Ngarsa Dalem (Sultan HB X). We have received directions from the Governor to then partially close it," said Hasto as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, December 10.

Even though it is closed, according to him, access for small vehicles or two wheels is still possible, but it is situational depending on the level of current density.

According to him, the least part of the bridge must be utilized at least.

"For example, on New Year's Eve and Christmas, we can condition it. The bridge over there is clear that the embankment has broken first, so utilization must be minimal," said Hasto.

The Yogya City Government has prepared anticipatory steps to reduce the potential for density in the Kleringan area, starting from installing portals in Kridosono to regulating the flow in front of Gramedia.

"So that high and large vehicles do not enter here. Then in front of Gramedia we also begin to arrange so that traffic flow does not burden this area too much," he explained.

The municipal government has also prepared an option to use Kridosono Field as a parking bag during the Christmas and New Year holidays to anticipate current congestion.

DIY Police Traffic Director Yuswanto Ardi conveyed that the impact of the closure was that vehicles from Jalan Margo Utomo were directed straight to the Kridosono Stadium area and could no longer turn right towards Malioboro.

He predicts that the Gramedia intersection will bear a surge in currents because it is estimated to be an option for residents' routes to the direction of the Kridosono Stadium.

Even so, his party has also prepared traffic engineering at the Gramedia intersection and Galeria Mall to break down the queue of vehicles.

"At the Gramedia intersection later, if we are from Jalan Cik Ditiro, later we will be allowed to turn left towards the east if the segment heading to Kridosono experiences congestion," he said.

Likewise, at the intersection of the Galeria Mall area, officers will open the option to turn right to the south, leading to the Lempuyangan Flyover.

"In conclusion, there will be two main entrances to the Malioboro area, which was originally only in Abu Bakar Ali or in Teteg, now it will be divided through the southern area, then into the road in the southern part of Malioboro," he explained.

Head of the Yogyakarta City Housing and Settlement Public Works Office Umi Akhsanti ensured that the Kewek Bridge would be completely dismantled in 2026 and rebuilt using the APBN budget.

The construction is expected to begin in April after the DED and tender review process is complete.

He said the construction project needed a budget of around Rp. 19 billion with concrete construction as currently used, accompanied by fasad adjustments according to regional regulations.

"The duration of development is approximately nine months," said Umi.