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President Joko Widodo has asked to immediately open the South Kalimantan’s Sei Alalak bridge that connects Banjarmasin City and Barito Kuala District heading to Central Kalimantan.

“It is right that the President has asked the Alalak bridge to be opened soon. We are currently coordinating with Public Works and Housing Ministry,” Head of the Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono noted in a press statement that ANTARA received here on Sunday.

The South Kalimantan residents had earlier appealed to the government to open the bridge to help solve congestion that has frequently occurred on the area connected by the bridge as the North ring road was badly damaged by flood.

Such protest has drawn the President’s attention. Knowing that the bridge plays an important role for the community, he then asked to open the bridge soon.

“The vehicle types allowed to pass the bridge are only two wheelers and passenger cars,” Hartono informed.

Meanwhile, Public Work and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono expressed readiness to carry out the President’s directive.

“We have conducted the final check on the bridge condition and it is ready to be opened following the President’s directive,” he said in a statement of Presidential Secretary press bureau.

Hadimuljono added that the ministry will coordinate with the South Kalimantan regional administration and South Kalimantan Police.

“We will coordinate with the South Kalimantan Transportation Service and South Kalimantan Police pertaining to the restricted operational test as well as to monitor and secure (the area),” he said.

He appealed to the residents to obey the traffic rules as well as for the two wheelers and passenger cars not to park or stop on the bridge.

“We concerns on the new-constructed bridge where many people want to stop by to see it and take some photos. For our common interest, please be orderly and obey the traffic rules,” he highlighted.

He also urged the public to maintain the cleanliness and stay discipline around the bridge area.

The construction process of Sei Alalak bridge has been accomplished on Friday, September 24, 2021. The bridge was build to replace the Kayu Tangi I bridge aged 30 years and it will have big impacts on the community’s economy. (Antaranews)