Sejuk Beach Villas

Jalan Tol, The Magrove Bridge

Bali's Jalan Tol is locally know as either the Mangrove Road or the Mangrove Bridge.  Constructed at world record pace and not without controversy the road was completed in August 2013.  The Mangrove Bridge is believed to have one of the most beautiful views in Indonesia but at the time of wiritng (September 2013) is yet to open to the public. 

The bridge which spans a huge 12.7KM from Nusa Dua to Benoa Harbor in Bali, also stops at the airport intersection to Bali's International Airport.

The opening date of The Mangrove Bridge is not yet clear but s locally believed to be late September, shortly before the APEC 2013 summit in Bali.  According to Kompass on 13th August 2013 the road had passed final administrative checks and approvals from the Central Government.

Gani Akman, Head of Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT), in Jakarta, Monday (12/08/2013), said the inspection is done of administration to the highway facility. "This highway should be ready to serve the user."

Jalan Tol was intended to solve 2 problems.  Primarliy, Bali's crippling traffic problems which have peaked as Bali has become more successful and its hospitality and construction industries have boomed.  The scarcity of land, the sensitivity to moving Bali's iconic landmarks and temples led naturally to the use of the huge mangrove which runs from along the South Eastern Coast of Bali.  The second need for Jalan Tol is the APEC 2013 Summit due to be held in Bali which required for security an alternative roadway to the airport and north of Bali.  Prior to the Mangrove Bridge opening there was only one roadway from the southern part of the island to the north. 

Controversy has followed the project ever since the main contractor PT Jasa Marga (Persero) changed their intended construction technique of floating the huge support columns into position.  The technique proved too difficult and slow especially given the APEC deadline of October 2013.  The method was changed to fillint a small slither of mangrove with limestone rocks and the driving the columns by truck into position.  The result has been a bridge that was officially the fasted construction project of its type in history.  Although the effect on the essential mangrove itself is not yet fully understood it is believed that the contractor is making good its pledge to remove the limestone from the mangrove under much pressure from the local government and local environmental groups.

The mangrove bridge is estimated to reduce the travel time from Nusa Dua to Sanur by 15 to 20 minutes.