O

n Wednesday, the President proudly opened Indonesia's longest bridge, "a domestic masterpiece" and a "milestone" for the country's infrastructure.

Accompanied by Acting Coordinating Minister for the Economy Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, East Java Governor Soekarwo and Bangkalan Regent Fuad Amin, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially opened the 5.4-kilometer bridge Wednesday.

"Suramadu bridge is a domestic masterpiece in the field of construction technology of the 21st century. This *the building of the bridge* also proves that this century, Indonesia has become a developed country," Yudhoyono said in front of some 6,500 guests attending the launch ceremony.

The President said the Suramadu bridge was a milestone in the history of the country's transportation infrastructure development achieved during his leadership.

"This infrastructure development will speed up the creation of job opportunities and support the nation's unity," he said.

He expressed hope the bridge would further develop Madura.

"Madura will be much more developed *as a result of the new bridge*, as long as it does not interfere with the religious nature of the Madurese people, who value customs and traditions."

The President also asked Minister Djoko Kirmanto to make sure the unfinished regional infrastructure facilities were completed in a thorough manner.

He said the government had allocated Rp 86.71 trillion (US$8.6 million) from the state budget and the stimulus fund toward the infrastructure sector.

"We have asked for that *regional infrastructure facilities* to be completed because we have funding for the infrastructure sector to improve the transportation facilities, road and bridge maintenance, housing, irrigation, infrastructure maintenance in general, and energy in the regions affected by natural disasters."

Djoko Kirmanto said the charge to cross the bridge (one way) would be Rp 30,000 for vehicles and Rp 3,000 for motorcycles.

He said the bridge fees were much lower than the fees charged to cross the Madura Strait by ferry, which amounted to Rp 5,800 for a motorcycle and Rp 70,000 for a vehicle.

The launch ceremony of the bridge, which connects the city of Surabaya to Madura Island, was interrupted by students from Surabaya and Madura protesting against the commercialization and politicization of the bridge by 2009 presidential candidates.

Before officially opening the bridge, Yudhoyono attended a declaration of support for his candidacy from numerous elements of the East Java community.