East Java Governor Ensures Suramadu Bridge Is Not Closed Despite SKTT Work

Barriers in the form of a 'water barrier' and a 'rubber cone' have been installed on the left side for the two-wheeled lane on the Suramadu Bridge, Kami (14/7/2022). ANTARA/Educate Suhartono

SURABAYA - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa ensured that the traffic flow of the Suramadu Bridge was not closed despite the construction of a high-voltage cable line (SKTT).

"There is no closure, but only the diversion of the flow of two-wheeled vehicles to the leftmost lane on the four-wheeled lane," he said while monitoring the installation of the SKTT cable on the Bangkalan side, Madura, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, July 14.

The diversion began July 19, 2022 and is scheduled to be completed over the next six months.

The route that is usually used for two-wheelers will be completely closed on the Surabaya to Bangkalan side with the hope that the work will run smoothly.

According to ANTARA's observations on the Suramadu Bridge, the barrier between two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles or more is installed with a water barrier, a rubber cone as a barrier complete with ropes, starting from the Surabaya side gate to the exit gate at Bangkalan.

"After the completion of the Surabaya to Bangkalan side, the cable installation will switch to the Bangkalan side to Surabaya which is also scheduled for six months of work. Later, the two-wheeled vehicles will also shift to the car lane on the far left," he added.

Khofifah appealed to vehicle users crossing the Suramadu Bridge to remain careful and pay attention to safe speeds.

PT PLN added electricity supply to Madura Island by preparing a 150 kV SKTT backbone Kewall – TX Bangkalan on the Suramadu Bridge.

Currently the Madura region is supported by two circuits, namely SUTT 150 kV Ujung/Kenjeran - SKTT 150 kV Suramadu 1 and SKTT 150 kV Bangkalan/Gilitimur.

PLN is preparing two circuits to increase capacity, which is currently still around 300 megawatts (MW), which will be doubled in 2023 to 600 MW.

According to Khofifah, this step is considered appropriate, given the increasing economic growth in Madura Island.

"With the right considerations, PLN colleagues will immediately execute the addition of electricity infrastructure, which is certainly in line with the expectation that economic growth will accelerate," he said.

With this development, said Khofifah, electricity supply will increase so that Islamic boarding schools, MSMEs, and the economic life of the Madurese will be more secure.

"Please support PLN, hopefully it will run smoothly so that the electricity supply will be better later," said Khofifah.