Balang Garapan Island Bridge Hutama Karya Inaugurated By President Jokowi, Encourages Connectivity At IKN

The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi). (Photo: Doc. Hutama Karya)

JAKARTA - The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, accompanied by Mrs. Iriana Joko Widodo, inaugurated the Balang Island Bridge based on PT Hutama Karya (Persero) (Hutama Karya) in cooperation with operations (KSO) with PT Adhi Karya (Persero) Tbk (Adhi Karya) and PT Bangun Cipta Kontraktor (KSO Hutama-Adhi-Bukun Cipta) in Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan Province, on Sunday 28 July.

The inauguration was marked by the suppression of the siren button and the signing of the inscription by President Jokowi accompanied by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing who is also Plt. Head of the State Capital Authority (IKN), Basuki Hadimuljono, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Deputy Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) who is also Deputy Head of the IKN Authority, Raja Juli Antoni, Acting Governor of East Kalimantan Akmal Malik, as well as a number of Indonesian art and influencers.

Also present were Hutama Karya President Director Budi Harto, Director of Operations I Hutama Karya Agung Fajarwanto, President Director of Adhi Karya Entus Asnawi Mukhson, and President Director of Bangun Cipta Kontractor Djoko Sarwono.

In his remarks, President Jokowi said that the Balang Island Bridge crossed Balikpapan Bay which connects Balikpapan City and North Penajam Paser Regency or later from East Kalimantan Province to South Kalimantan Province by spending a budget of IDR 1.43 trillion.

"By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, this afternoon I inaugurate the Balang Island Bridge in North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province," said President Jokowi.

Executive Vice President (EVP) of the Corporate Secretary of Hutama Karya, Adjib Al Hakim explained that the construction of the Balang Island Bridge, which is one of the supporting infrastructures for IKN, consists of a cable stayed bridge of 804 m, a short bridge of 40x4 m, an access road of 1,807 m, a 4-unit feder, a tetrapod on the Balang and Tempadung sides, and a Bridge Information Center Building.

"The bridge with a shipping free space as high as 29 m, a span of 402 m, and a width of 22.4 m with 4 lanes has a Cable Stayed Bridge type, namely a bridge that is built using high-power pretight cables to withstand the bridge load. In addition, there are pylons or bridge poles as high as 113.44 m to withstand these cables, and the number of cable stayed 21x8," said Adjib.

The bridge, which has been under construction since 2015, has completed 100 percent construction work, and is currently entering its final stage in the process of making appearances and beautification with a progress of 97.29 percent.

Adjib further explained the benefits of the presence of this bridge, including as access to the Central Government Core Area (KIPP); accelerating access from Balikpapan to IKN which previously took 2.5 hours, but with bridges and toll roads, travel time was reduced to 1.5 hours; support economic growth and development of the surrounding area.

"With the inauguration of the Balang Island Bridge, it is a tangible manifestation of Hutama Karya's support for infrastructure and development progress at IKN. Hutama Karya is also committed to continuing to accelerate the completion of a number of other projects at IKN," concluded Adjib.