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Indonesia’s first circular overpass project kick-starts
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Heavy equipment is deployed as construction work begins on the Semanggi circular overpass in Jakarta on Friday. (thejakartapost.com/Anton Hermansyah)
T
he Jakarta administration has launched the construction of the Semanggi flyover, as Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama inaugurated the project with the groundbreaking on Friday. The first circular overpass in the country aims to improve traffic to an airport.
State-owned construction firm Wijaya Karya (Wika), which had won the Rp 345.07 billion (US$26.3 million) project, appointed Mitra Panca Persada and a Hong Kong consultancy firm as advisors in the projects.
"We want this intersection to free up bottlenecks. People currently need so much time to get from Halim Airport to Slipi. The appointment of Wika [as the contractor] is fine. I do want it to be built by local entities," said Ahok after the inauguration in Jakarta.
The construction project, estimated to take 18 months to complete, will be divided into two phases. The first three months will be needed for the detailed engineering design (DED) and the remaining 15 month for construction.
"Wika usually builds straight overpasses. It is the first time for us and for Indonesia to build the circular structure. We have made research, assisted by a Hong Kong-based firm. All of the capital expenditure is covered," said Wika corporate secretary Suradi Wongso Suwarno.
He went on to explain that the construction would not destroy the park around the Semanggi area. Several trees might have to be cut down, he admitted, but added that Wika would replace the trees right after the project was completed.
"The park will not be disturbed by the construction, since the foundation is pillars. It will be illuminated by LED lamps with changeable colors. So for special occasions like Independence Day, we can switch it to red and white," he said. (ags)
