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Jakarta to have a new pedestrian bridge, but not all are impressed
Overhead pedestrian crossings are a common sight in Jakarta, particularly on its main thoroughfares. Footbridges also allow commuters to reach Transjakarta bus stops, which are often on a dedicated lane on the right-hand side of the road.
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An aerial photo, taken on Jan. 1, 2022, shows the under-renovation bridge, which boasts a unique phinisi ship design, over Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo)
T
he renovation of a pedestrian bridge on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta, which has garnered public attention due to its unique design, is nearing completion, in the latest move by the Jakarta administration to revamp its old bridges to make the city more pedestrian-friendly.
Overhead pedestrian crossings are a common sight in Jakarta, particularly on its main thoroughfares. Footbridges also allow commuters to reach Transjakarta bus stops, which are often on a dedicated lane on the right-hand side of the road.
The currently renovated pedestrian crossing, dubbed Karet Sudirman Bridge, sits atop the Karet Transjakarta bus stop and boasts a design reminiscent of a phinisi, a traditional ship built by Bugis and Makassar people in South Sulawesi.
The bridge is equipped with lifts and ramps to make it accessible to the elderly, people with disabilities as well as cyclists, while weight sensors are also installed to provide warnings whenever the bridge is nearing its maximum capacity.
Jakarta Bina Marga road agency, which is currently revamping the Karet Sudirman Bridge, has said the renovation project is near completion, adding that the pedestrian crossing will be inaugurated “soon.”
While the bridge is being built, a temporary pelican crossing has been installed nearby to allow pedestrians to cross Jl. Sudirman or to enter the Karet Transjakarta bus stop.
A pelican crossing is similar to a traditional zebra crossing, but it is equipped with its own traffic lights. A similar facility was installed near the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta.
