Progress on the Kewek Bridge and Abu Bakar Ali Green Space Projects
Two construction projects in Yogyakarta City are being fast-tracked to meet a December 2026 completion target: the revitalisation of Kewek Bridge and the development of a green open space (RTH) on the former Abu Bakar Ali car park site. Here is the latest progress on the two projects at the northern end of Malioboro Road.
Kewek Bridge
DetikJogja observed this afternoon that the new bridge deck has been installed, replacing the old structure. Solid foundation supports can also be seen holding up the new deck.
“Kewek Bridge is progressing well, thank God. We can now see that it is about 78% complete,” Yogyakarta Mayor Hasto Wardoyo said when met at the Kepatihan Complex in Yogyakarta City on Tuesday (27 October 2026).
“The bridge deck is now in place, which means the main structure is complete. The remaining work is probably the other finishing touches. Hopefully it will be completed on target,” he added.
Work is now focused on tidying up the area around the bridge, including the river walls and Adi Pura Park on its western side. Hasto said this surrounding work would take considerable time.
“We will follow up by tidying up the surroundings. Once the bridge is complete, we will then improve the surrounding area,” Hasto said.
“Tidying up the area does take time, because we can only start once the bridge is finished. There is a park and a fountain, and those will be our next tasks,” he added.
Abu Bakar Ali Green Open Space
Meanwhile, DIY Regional Secretary Ni Made Dwipanti Indrayanti said construction of the Abu Bakar Ali green open space was being accelerated to meet the December 2026 deadline.
DetikJogja observed that the former car park site had been covered with soil. Dozens of tall trees had been planted, while a small building intended to house public toilets had also been completed.
“The target is for everything to be finished by 22 December, God willing. It was extremely hot recently, so some trees may need time to establish themselves. The shrubs are the only things that have yet to be planted,” Made said when met at the Kepatihan Complex.
“I think the work needs to be accelerated, because what I have seen is not quite up to my expectations. December is only a little over a month away—about a month and a half. This may be related to the drainage channels and infrastructure arrangements,” she added.
Made said the Abu Bakar Ali green space was not intended as a place to hang out. It will have no parking, but will include a small jogging track for people who want to exercise.
“There will be no parking; the whole area is free for public use as an open space. There will be a guard to prevent children from gathering there or vendors from suddenly setting up stalls,” Made said.
“It will provide a space with plants and a jogging track, although it is really for a gentle run or simply to enjoy. The important thing is that it should not become a place for people to congregate. It is meant to give Yogyakarta some breathing space,” she added.
Site supervisor Arif said around 26 varieties of large trees would be planted at the green space. Smaller plants would be placed around them to make the area more attractive.
The site will not be paved; instead, fertile soil will be planted with grass. Only the jogging track will be paved, using the same material as the Malioboro pedestrian walkway.
“There are around 25 to 26 types of trees, with about 172 large trees. There will be many smaller plants too, with shrubs planted around each large tree,” Arif said when met at the Abu Bakar Ali site.
“The jogging track will be circular. There are five axes here, each with its own large tree, and the track will form circles of different diameters. The largest will be at the back, on the eastern side,” he said.