Bridge collapse separates towns

YOGYAKARTA: Land transportation between Bantul and Kulon Progo regencies here has been disrupted after a main bridge linking the two areas partially collapsed on Tuesday.

The 531-meter bridge situated in Srandakan village, dubbed the longest on the island of Java, also serves as an alternative route on the southern coast road.

Traffic has to be detoured through the Bantar bridge, located some 10 kilometers away from Srandakan.

As an emergency step, the local public works office planned to erect a Bailey bridge to temporarily restore the route.

Head of the Bantul Public Works Office Suci Lestari blamed uncontrolled sand quarrying for the collapse. "Two of 59 capstans of the bridge broke because of the area where the two columns stand had been severely eroded due to sand quarrying," she told reporters while inspecting the 75-year-old bridge.

She said a new bridge with Cable-stayed technology, like the one built across the Barito river in South Kalimantan, was preferable. Such a bridge will cost the local government between Rp 100 million and Rp 120 million. (swa)