Red-White Bridge, Cable-stayed bridge in Ambon, Indonesia
The Red-White Bridge (Jembatan Merah Putih) is a cable-stayed bridge across Ambon Bay, 1,140 m long in three parts: a 520 m approach on the Poka side, a 320 m approach on the Galala side and a 300 m main span. The main span hangs from concrete pylons shaped like an inverted Y, with cables fanning to the deck; the pylon spacing is 150 m.
Construction began on 17 July 2011 with an initial budget of Rp 416.75 billion and a planned 2014 finish. Weather delays to material deliveries and the Ambon earthquake of 29 December 2015 pushed completion back, and the cost rose to Rp 779.2 billion. President Joko Widodo inaugurated the bridge on 4 April 2016.
The name refers to the red-and-white flag of Indonesia, but also to the sectarian conflict of 1999–2002, when Christians were called the "red group" and Muslims the "white group"; the bridge was named as a symbol of peace, unity and solidarity among the Moluccans.
The bridge carries the road between Rumah Tiga (Poka) on the north shore and Hative Kecil/Galala on the south, cutting the 35 km drive from Pattimura Airport to central Ambon from about 60 minutes to a direct crossing. The former ferry between Rumah Tiga and Galala took around 20 minutes plus queuing. The main span is 300 m, with 520 m and 320 m approach viaducts.
The name refers to Indonesia's red-and-white flag, but also to the 1999–2002 Maluku sectarian conflict, when Christians were called the "red group" and Muslims the "white group"; the bridge was intended as a symbol of peace and unity. Its main span is 300 metres, with 150 metres between pylons.
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