As compared to sea transportation, the bridge facilitates smooth and efficient flow of goods and people, the head of state noted while chairing a limited cabinet meeting at the presidential palace held here on Wednesday to discuss the development of areas surrounding the Suramadu Bridge.
Jokowi hoped that the presence of the 5,438-meter-long and three-meter-wide bridge would narrow the development gap between the islands of Java and Madura.
The meeting was attended by Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, East Java Governor Soekarwo, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Resources Rizal Ramli, and Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan, among others.
The bridge connecting Surabaya, the capital of East Java, and Bangkalan on Madura Island, was inaugurated on July 1, 2009.
The countrys longest bridge was built over the Madura Strait and was constructed at a cost of Rp4.5 trillion, or US$428 million, by the state.
Suramadu (abbreviation of Surabaya and Madura) Bridge has three cable-stayed sections, with respective lengths of 192 meters, 434 meters, and 192 meters. The bridge has two lanes in each direction in addition to an emergency lane and a dedicated lane for motorcycles.
(Uu.F001/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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