JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) through the National Road Implementation Center (BPJN) XXI Kendari, Director General of Bina Marga is completing the construction of the 1.34 km Kendari Bay Bridge connecting the Old City Port area with Poasia Sub-District in Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi Province (Sultra).
"The construction of bridge infrastructure, flyovers and underpasses will facilitate the connectivity and accessibility of traffic, in addition to providing alternatives for citizens to increase economic productivity," Minister Basuki said.
The government has established the construction of a port area on Bungkutoko Island that is part of the development of Kendari City with the construction of Bangkutoko Port (Kendari New Port) covering an area of 66 hectares. This port area is a transfer from the old port in the Old City area. Bungkutoko Port is projected to be the entrance for commodities to and from Kendari city and Southeast Sulawesi province with a plan to build a supporting industrial area of 26 ha.
Meanwhile, Head of BPJN XXI Kendari (Sultra) Yohanis Tulak Todingrara said, construction work on Kendari Bay Bridge consists of the construction of short roads or oprit (602.5 m), approach span (357.7 m), side span (180 m), main span (200 m). This cable stayed bridge has a width of 20 meters with four lanes as well as a median and sidewalk. Construction progress has now reached 97.33 %.
Kendari Bay Bridge will also facilitate the access of people in the Old City or Poasia area that has been separated by the Gulf. People must cross Kendari Bay by ferry or circle the bay for 20 Km with a travel time of 30-35 minutes. With the Kendari Bay Bridge, the distance is getting closer and the travel time takes only about 5 minutes. (LM)