KEDIRI (BINA MARGA) - Cabinet Secretary (Seskab) Pramono Anung together with PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi, Regent of Kediri Haryanti Sutrisno, Plt. Director General of Highways of the Ministry of PUPR Arie Setiadie Moerwanto, and Head of BBPJN VIII Ketut Dharmawahana inaugurated the Wijaya Kusuma bridge in Kediri, East Java, Tuesday (29/5).

The 182.84 meters long steel frame bridge connects the Ngadiluwih and Mojo Districts in the Kediri Regency. Pramono said that the bridge was expected to be a solution to the problem of the gap between the two regions, namely the western and eastern regions because it had been divided by the Brantas River.

"So far there have been difficulties in western residents sending their crops to the east. In the eastern markets, prices will be more competitive. Hopefully this bridge will open isolation in the west river," he added.

Before this bridge was built, crossing residents were only helped using a mining boat with limited haulage. As for four-wheeled vehicles, it must rotate around 15 kilometers via the Alon-alon bridge in Kediri City.

Pramono reminded that infrastructure development is part of President Joko Widodo's Nawacita by accelerating comprehensive infrastructure development and creating connectivity to encourage economic growth.

On the same occasion, the Acting Director General of Highways said that the Wijaya Kusuma Bridge was built quite quickly, namely since May 2017 and was completed in December 2017. The government allocated Rp. 32.7 billion for its construction. In addition to the bridge structure, an approaching road along the 80 m of the Beranggahan side and 60 m of the Mojo side was also built. This bridge has a width of 7 meters with 1 meter sidewalk on each side.

Although it was built on the regional road called Banggle Road, the bridge will benefit from the transportation of the road network from Kediri to Selingkar Wilis, Ngadiluwih to Selingkar Wilis, and the Kediri / Tulungagung Border to Selingkar Wilis. Selingkar Wilis is a 240 km planned road that connects six districts namely Tulungagung, Trenggalek, Ponorogo, Madiun, Nganjuk, and Kediri.

Although basically still in the form of ideas. The government supports the development of this region by improving the quality of infrastructure that is interconnected between regions at the foot of the slopes of Mount Wilis. Selingkar Wilis is also part of the 12 Strategic Development Areas (WPS) with potential for the agribusiness, horticulture, energy and tourism sectors. (Ian)