Kotim Regency Government: Sei Lenggana Bridge Replacement Doesn't Disrupt Logistics Distribution

Acting Assistant II of the Regional Secretariat of East Kotim Rody Kamislam. (ANTARA/DEVita Maulina)

SAMPIT - The government of East Kotawaringin Regency (Kotim), Central Kalimantan (Kalteng), has ensured that the process of replacing the Sei Lenggana Bridge on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman kilometer 21 Sampit has little impact on logistics distribution.

"Regarding the replacement of the bridge, maybe the impact on the flow of goods, especially logistics, is not too much. Because we bring in the supply of chickens, rice, and others from other areas," said Assistant II for the Economy and Development of the Kotim Secretariat, Rody Kamislam, in Sampit, Antara, Friday, August 1.

Since the past week, Sei Lenggana Bridge access has been completely closed in line with the start of the replacement process by the Central Kalimantan National Road Implementation Agency (BPJN). As a temporary solution, an emergency road and bridge have been built next to the old bridge.

However, due to limited emergency bridge capabilities, the traffic system is regulated with an open-close system, which causes queues of vehicles to infect more than one kilometer, both from Sampit to Pangkalan Bun and vice versa.

However, Rody emphasized that most of the main logistics supplies for Kotim, such as chicken, rice, and agricultural products came from the direction of Banjarmasin and Palangka Raya, not from the Sampit-Pangkalan Bun route.

"The path is different. So the impact is not significant," he said.

In addition, logistics distribution from outside the island can still enter through ports in Kotim.

Previously, the Commitment Making Officer (PPK) 1.3 Central Kalimantan from BPJN Central Kalimantan, Marhara Tua, explained that the replacement of the bridge was carried out because the old bridge structure had been severely damaged based on the evaluation of the Condition Value (NK).

The section of the abuse or support structure on the bridge has been broken and rolled over. If left unchecked, the embedding of the bridge can be completely removed, "explained Marhara.

He added that traffic engineering around the location was carried out with a number of related agencies. The Sei Lenggana Bridge replacement project is targeted to be completed by December 3, 2025, according to the applicable contract.