Indonesia to build a 7-km bridge over sea

Indonesia is attempting to construct a 7-km long bridge in the sea that will link two islands located near Singapore.

The project will consist the longest sea bridge in Indonesia when completed. According to officials, its construction is planned to initiate between 2022 and 2023 and its total cost will reach $284 million.

The bridge will connect the islands of Batam and Bintan that are located just across Singapore. The government's plan is to establish the island of Batam as a business and trading center and a tourist destination. The project is part of a larger investment (about $400 billion) that will boost infrastructure developments in Indonesia. 

This investment will begin in the following years. 40% of the total fund will be granted by the government, 25% by state-owned firms and the remaining 45% by private initiatives. More than half of that amount will be directed to infrastructure projects related to transportation. Those projects are critical for Indonesia's development as it is a country consisting of about 17,000 islands. “The only way for Indonesia to have higher economic growth is connectivity. We are planning to establish the equivalent of a highway for the skies by building airstrips or smaller airports for connectivity” Indonesia Minister of National Development Planning, Bambang Brodjonegoro, stated.

The original plans include the upgrade of 165 existing airports and the development of remote areas to host seaplanes facilities. The ministry is currently investigating on the details of the great investment, preparing preliminary studies and analyzing the alternative engineering designs.

Source: Bloomberg.com