Government Targets 5,000 Suspension Bridges by End of 2026

The government is targeting the completion of 5,000 suspension bridges across various regions of Indonesia by the end of 2026 to strengthen connectivity for communities, including those in remote areas. “Building bridges, connecting hopes,” said Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya in a social media post, as per a statement from the Presidential Secretariat received in Jakarta on Thursday. Teddy stated that the government is targeting the completion of 2,500 suspension bridges by August 2026. Construction will then be accelerated to reach the target of 5,000 bridges by the end of next year. According to him, the new bridges are being built to connect areas that have been separated for years by rivers and difficult terrain. Therefore, President Prabowo Subianto is encouraging the construction of suspension bridges to realise faster, safer, and more equitable connectivity to all corners of Indonesia. “In many areas that have been separated by rivers for decades, the presence of a bridge can change the lives of the community,” he said. Teddy stated that the construction of suspension bridges is expected to facilitate community mobility and improve access to education, health services, and other public facilities. He added that the infrastructure also serves as a support facility for children in remote areas to reach their schools. “For children who must go to school every day, a bridge is not just a link between two riverbanks. A bridge is a link to the future,” he said.