Gov’t Completes Manula Bridge Connecting Bengkulu-Lampung

The Manula bridge that links Bengkulu and Lampung Provinces. (Photo by: Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing).

The Government has completed a 215-meter bridge connecting Bengkulu province and the neighboring Lampung province.

“This is Manula Bridge, which was completed by Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) at the end of last year. It is surrounded by beautiful scenery of protected forest cliffs, making your selfie worth keeping,” President Jokowi announced on his Twitter account @jokowi, Friday (7/2).

In the meantime, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono reported that the Government has focused on interconnectivity infrastructure development in various regions, which is aimed to improve national competitiveness and equitable distribution of development outcomes, as well as to narrow down disparity between regions across the country.

“The Government puts a high priority on infrastructure development, including infrastructure in cities, villages, districts, border areas, as well as in the outermost and leading islands,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Head of the National Road Management Agency (BPJN) III in Padang H Aidil Fiqri said that the Manula Bridge has made improved connectivity between regions as bridge now links the provinces of Bengkulu and Lampung.

Replacing an older one, Aidil continued, the new bridge – which is located in Tebing Rambutan Village – helps mobility of large and heavy-duty vehicles that are unable to climb and cross the bridge.

“In addition, the Manula Bridge becomes a shaft that connects West Sumatra – Bengkulu and Lampung,” he added.

The Manula Bridge construction project was executed in stages. The construction began by implementing a Design Survey (DED) and the land acquisition process in 2010-2012.

In the first phase, it was constructed by PT. Nindya Karya in 2013-2014, followed by the second phase of construction by PT. Cahaya Tunggal Abadi in 2016. In the third phase, PT. Ciptamarga Trigaya carried out the construction in 2017, while in the fourth phase, the construction was continued by PT. Surya Alnusa Mandiri last year.

Construction of the bridge costs Rp20.4 billion last year, while budget for the whole construction of the bridge reaches Rp168 billion.

Aidil further said that the Manula Bridge is built with the length of the bridge 215 meters and the width of 10.5 meters and consists of 6 spans made of the 35-meter long concrete from Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI). The bridge also uses steel piles for its foundation construction.

In regard to the name of the bridge, it is taken based on appreciation and respect for one of the figures buried around the bridge, namely Sheikh Aminullah. (Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing/EN)

Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas