Bridge projects planned for Indonesia

Two important bridge projects are planned for Indonesia. The South Korean firm Samsung is keen to build a 6.7km bridge to link Bintan Island with the free trade zone (FTZ) located in Batam Island. The copmany has been in discussions with the 1065 Indonesian Government with regard to the project, which will also include developing a container port in Batam's Tanjung Sauh and is likely to cost in the order of US$576.5 million in all. Meanwhile plans are in hand for a new 600m bridge to be developed in Jayapura. This will cost some $65.88 million and will connect Jayapura city in Indonesia's Papua province with several outer regions including the bordering area of Papua New Guinea. The project is due for completion in 2018. Construction of the new Holtekam bridge will be financed by the state and regional budgets. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will make an announcement on the project. In addition to the bridge, several other civil projects are also in the pipeline to add to the newly completed roads in the district areas of Papua and West Papua, according to the Papua Public Works Office.