South Kalimantan Governor Targets Batulicin-Kotabaru Bridge To Be Completed In 2029

Governor Of South Kalimantan (Kalsel) H Muhidin

KALSEL - Governor of South Kalimantan (Kalsel) H Muhidin targets the construction of the Sea Island Bridge connecting Batulicin-Kota to be completed for three years.

Muhidin conveyed this when accompanying the Indonesian Minister of Environment (LH) Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, when reviewing the construction of the Sea Island Bridge project in Tanjung Serdang, Salino Village, Central Sea Island District, Kotabaru, Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

He said the strategic infrastructure of roads and bridges connecting Tanah Bumbu Regency and Kotabaru Regency was proposed as a National Strategic Project (PSN).

The plan is that the bridge connecting Batulicin-Kotabaru has a length of 3.75 kilometers.

"We control or review the Sea Island Bridge between Batulicin and Kotabaru," said Muhidin.

He revealed that the bridge project was still being carried out, but the construction period had expired, so the fine had to be completed for 50 days.

Muhidin hopes that the bridge project can be completed next year in order to facilitate the mobility of the Batulicin-Kotabaru community.

He revealed that the initial construction of the Sea Island Bridge included the construction of a foundation that had been carried out 400 meters out of a total of 750 meters so that there were 350 meters remaining.

"I hope this can be completed quickly with the target of three years the Sea Island Bridge can be enjoyed by the people of South Kalimantan," he said.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Environment Agency Minister Hanif Faisal Nurofiq stated that the Sea Island Bridge is very important for the people of South Kalimantan, even the Kalimantan Island region because it is the entry and exit of trade traffic in the future.

The river in Banjarmasin has been reported that sedimentation is almost 400 meters per cubic day. Then, the South Kalimantan Provincial Government through PT. Ambapers works around 100 tons per day, so there are still 300 tons per cubic," explained Hanif.

Hanif explained that the silting of the Barito River is also a water problem at Banjarmasin Port which requires time for recovery so that the existence of the Sea Island Bridge is very necessary.

Hanif said, the Sea Island Bridge is an alternative to improving the economic sector of South Kalimantan residents because it has a water depth that accommodates industrial ships.

"We can imagine that the Sea Island Bridge will be realized, so the entrance and exit will occur here. In fact, the South Kalimantan Provincial Government has designed it in such a way as to just execute it," said Hanif.

Meanwhile, Acting Head of the South Kalimantan Province Public Works and Spatial Planning (PUPR) Office, M Yasin Toyib, explained that the central government will take the financing for the construction of the Sea Island Bridge project, because it has been proposed to become PSN.

Yasin said, the South Kalimantan Provincial Government has budgeted IDR 200 billion from the Batulicin side and IDR 300 billion from the Kotabaru side.

In 2025, the South Kalimantan Provincial Government has budgeted IDR 300 billion in terms of Batulicin and IDR 450 billion in terms of Kotabaru.

"A total of IDR 1.2 trillion, while the required budget is IDR 5.9 trillion, so it is still needed at around IDR 4.7 trillion," said Yasin.

Yasin said the construction of the Sea Island Bridge could be carried out for two years, but the budget was large so that the development plan became three years.

"God willing, the island bridge will be completed and can be enjoyed by the community in 2029 with the area being a big port," said Yasin.