The Longest Bridges in Southeast Asia, Here Are the Three Champions
Bridges are important traffic points for every region. In addition to connecting distances for more efficient travel, bridges can also serve as prestige points for an area. Usually, the highest, most beautiful, most unique, and longest bridges are recorded.
In Southeast Asia, there are three champions with the title of the longest bridge. The first champion is Malaysia with the Penang Bridge, followed by Myanmar with its pride, the Mawlamyaing Bridge, and Indonesia ranks third with the Suramadu Bridge connecting Surabaya and Madura. For facts about these three bridges, check out the following explanations, friends.
Penang Bridge II, Malaysia
The Penang Bridge II or Penang Second Bridge connects Bayan Lepas and Seberang Prai. This bridge has become a national landmark of Malaysia since it was officially opened in 2014. Before this bridge was built, transportation from Penang Island to the Malaysian mainland relied on two ferries, Butterworth and George Town. Now, the Penang Bridge serves as a practical traffic route as it operates a toll with a ticket price of RM 5.6.
The Penang Bridge began construction in 2008 and was completed in 2014, two years later than the initial plan. This was due to cost constraints, which amounted to $1.7 billion or RM 4.5 billion.
If the first Penang Bridge has a length of 13 kilometers, the Penang II Bridge stretches 24 kilometers with 16.9 kilometers crossing the sea. It is said that this bridge is designed to be strong enough to withstand earthquakes of up to 7.5 on the Richter scale.
Mawlamyaing Bridge, Myanmar
The Mawlamyaing Bridge is the longest bridge in Myanmar and the second longest in Southeast Asia. The Mawlamyaing Bridge, also known as Thanlwin, has a length of approximately 6,600 meters. This bridge spans the Thanlwin River, connecting the city of Mawlamyaing and Mottama. The Department of Construction designed and built this bridge.
The Mawlamyaing Bridge is divided into two lanes, one for motor vehicles spanning 3 kilometers and a special lane for trains spanning 6 kilometers. This bridge is a favorite among tourists and is a must-visit tourist destination when in Myanmar.
Suramadu Bridge, Indonesia
The third longest bridge in Southeast Asia is held by Indonesia with the Suramadu Bridge. Famous bridges in Indonesia that connects Surabaya and Madura spans the Madura Strait with a length of approximately 5.4 kilometers. This bridge consists of three parts: the main elevated road, the connecting bridge, and the main bridge. Suramadu is recognized as the longest bridge in Indonesia by the Museum of Indonesian Records.
The Suramadu Bridge began construction in 2003 and was completed six years later. With this bridge, the people of Madura who want to go to Surabaya only need a travel time of ten minutes. The Suramadu Bridge implements a toll fee with ticket prices ranging from Rp15,000 to Rp45,000 and is free for two-wheeled motor vehicles.
What is unique about the Suramadu Bridge is that since 2017, an annual festival called the Suramadu Festival has been held with various events, ranging from marathon races to exhibitions of Madura's arts and culture.
The bridge, which looks beautiful at night with golden lights illuminating its entire structure, was inaugurated on June 10, 2009, by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the 6th President of Indonesia. Built to facilitate transportation from Surabaya to Madura, this bridge has indeed had a positive impact on the economy of Madura. The level of visits as a tourist destination in the Madura region has increased, leading to better economic growth compared to before the bridge was built.
Author: Nisa Maulan Shofa
