Kutai Kartanegara Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:Kutai Kartanegara Bridge
Official Name:Kutai Kartanegara ing Martadipura Bridge
Crosses:Mahakam River
Locale:Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan, Indonesia
Design:Suspension bridge (original)Arch bridge (new)
Material:Steel
Length:[1]
Below:[2]
Builder:PT Hutama Karya
Begin:17 August 1995 (original)
10 April 2013 (new)
Complete:2001 (original)
November 2015 (new)
Open:Early 2002 (original)
7 December 2015 (new)
Collapsed:26 November 2011 (original)
Coordinates:-0.4444°N 117.0029°W

The Kutai Kartanegara Bridge (also known as the Mahakam II Bridge) is an arch bridge, formerly a suspension bridge, located in Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo in Indonesia. It crosses the Mahakam River and connects Tenggarong and Tenggarong Seberang districts, as well as roads that lead to Samarinda.

The 710m (2,330feet) bridge, which featured a 270m (890feet) suspended section, was intended to resemble San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. Construction on the bridge commenced in 1995 and was completed in 2001. It was the longest suspension bridge in Indonesia.[2]

On 26 November 2011, the bridge collapsed only ten years after it was completed, killing at least 20 people and injuring 39.

The bridge was constructed by state-owned builders PT Hutama Karya[3] at a cost of Rp 150 billion (US$16.4 million).[4]

Collapse

On 26 November 2011 at 9:59pm (local time),[5] [6] while workers were performing maintenance on the bridge, a support cable snapped[3] and the structure suffered a catastrophic failure. The roadway fell into the 50m (160feet) Mahakam River below, leaving only the two bridge towers and some support cables remaining. At least 20 people were killed[7] and 40 were injured,[5] with an additional 19 people reported missing.[7] Research findings have shown that the collapse was largely due to construction failure of the vertical hanging clamp. It was also found that poor maintenance, fatigue in the construction material of cable hanger, and the quality of material, may have also impacted the collapse of the bridge.[8]

A replacement arch bridge was built in 2013 and formally opened in December 2015.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kutai Kertanegara I Suspension Bridge Structurae . en.structurae.de . 2011 . 28 November 2011.
  2. Web site: DSI > Markets > References > First use of 63.5 mm dia. GEWI Bar in Indonesia . dywidag-systems.com . 2011 . 28 November 2011 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110912044201/http://www.dywidag-systems.com/references/details/article/kutai-kertanegara-suspension-bridge-indonesia.html . September 12, 2011 .
  3. News: At least 3 dead and scores injured as Indonesia's 'Golden Gate Bridge' collapses . 2011-11-26 . NBC News . 2011-11-29.
  4. News: Farouk . Arnaz . Agus Triyono . Materials, Planning Eyed in Bridge Collapse . 2011-11-29 . https://archive.today/20130204013443/http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/materials-planning-eyed-in-collapse/481661 . dead. 2013-02-04 . The Jakarta Globe . 2011-12-02 .
  5. News: Collapsed bridge death toll rises to 19 . 2011-11-30 . The Jakarta Post . 2011-12-02 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111202155622/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/11/30/collapsed-bridge-death-toll-rises-19.html . 2011-12-02 .
  6. News: Hunt for survivors after Indonesia bridge collapse . 2011-11-27 . ABS-CBN News.
  7. News: Plans to Build New $33 million Bridge After Disaster . 2011-12-01 . The Jakarta Globe . 2011-12-02 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111202164836/http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/plans-to-build-new-33-million-bridge-after-disaster/482078 . 2011-12-02 .
  8. News: Basic Engineering Errors Led To Indonesia Bridge Collapse . 2012-01-26 .