PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono: March 2021, Banjarmasin Sei Alalak Bridge Is Completed

Sei Alalak Bridge in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of PUPR)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Public Works for Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono said that the construction of the Sei Alalak Bridge in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan has currently reached 77 percent.

"It is hoped that the 850 meter long bridge will be completed in March 2021," said Basuki in a written statement, quoted on Saturday, December 26.

The Sei Alalak Bridge was built to replace the 30-year-old Tangi 1 Wooden Bridge and is the main access route for Banjarmasin City with various areas in South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan.

According to Basuki, the existence of national roads and bridges is expected to support regional economic activities and the welfare of local communities.

"The existence of the Trans Kalimantan Road will increase the economic growth of the surrounding area where the road passes through plantation areas such as oil palm, rubber and mining. So it will speed up logistics transportation," he said.

Basuki said, the main span of the Sei Alalak bridge was designed using a cable-stayed and arch bridge structure and the first in Indonesia.

The construction of the Sei Alalak Bridge is designed to be able to be crossed by vehicles with a maximum tonnage of 10 tons, stronger than the old Tangi 1 wooden bridge structure, which came from a class B steel frame with the ability to withstand loads of less than 8 tons.

"Apart from that, the strength of this bridge has also been calculated with earthquake-resistant construction, and the service period is up to 100 years," said Basuki.

The Sei Alalak Bridge work uses funds from the 2018-2021 State Sharia Securities (SBSN) worth IDR278 billion with the contractor PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk-PT Pandji, KSO with a multi-year work scheme.

During the work of the Sei Alalak Bridge, traffic flow is diverted to the Tangi 2 Wooden Bridge and along with the completion of the construction of the Sei Alalak Bridge, it is also planned to demolish the Tangi 1 Wooden Bridge.

"The replacement of the bridge is expected to increase the capacity of the road network in South Kalimantan Province which will have an impact on increasing economic growth and community welfare," he added.