Increase Connectivity To IKN, Bantang Short Duplicate Bridge, Balang Island Built

Construction of the short-span duplication bridge on Balang Island in East Kalimantan. Photo: Doc. Ministry of PUPR

The Directorate General of Highways of the Ministry of PUPR through the Center for the Implementation of National Roads (BBPJN) of East Kalimantan has begun to build a double bridge for the short span of Balang Island in East Kalimantan.

This duplication bridge in addition to connecting the City of Balikpapan with North Penajam Paser Regency as the main route for logistics transportation, is also one of the accesses to the State Capital (IKN) of the Archipelago.

Head of the IKN Infrastructure Development Task Force (Satgas) Danis Hidayat Sumadilaga said this duplication bridge was important to complete the short-span Balang Island Bridge as well as connect the Balang Island Bridge which had been completed construction.

"Later, after this bridge is operated, it will certainly be very useful to reduce the high volume of traffic, also as a logistics route. This bridge is part of the connectivity network to IKN," said Danis in a written statement received by VOI, Monday, June 26.

The duplication bridge for the short span of Balang Island is about 500 meters from the long span bridge on Balang Island which was completed in 2021. The duplication bridge for the short span of Balang Island was built side by side with the old 470-meter bridge, which was completed in 2015.

The short-span duplication bridge on Balang Island was built 511 meters long with a steel frame type consisting of 4 pillars in the sea zone and 4 pillars in the land zone. Construction of the bridge began to be built in January 2023 with a contract value of Rp471 billion, using the implementing contractor PT Adhi Karya-Duta-Jakon (KSO). Currently, the physical progress of the work has reached 11.6 percent with an absorption of 25.5 percent.

The construction of a duplication bridge that connects the City of Balikpapan with North Penajam Paser Regency will also increase the connectivity of the South Kalimantan Cross Road, which is the main route for logistics transportation on the island of Kalimantan.

Currently, vehicles from Balikpapan to Penajam and will continue their journey to Banjarmasin City in South Kalimantan and other cities must rotate with a distance of about 80 km with a travel time of 4 hours.

It is hoped that this duplication bridge will help shorten the distance, which is about 30 km and can be crossed in just 1 hour.

Meanwhile, the Head of BBPJN East Kalimantan, Reiza Setiawan, said that the duplication of the Balang Island short-span bridge will be connected to the IKN Segment 5A access toll road Simpang Tempadung-Balong Island bridge along 6.67 km which is targeted for completion in 2024.

"The construction of the toll road to IKN is connected to the Balikpapan-Samarinda Toll Road, this road is part of a connectivity network to the IKN Nusantara Government Core Area (KIPP)," he said.