Singkawang, West Kalimantan, June 18 (Antaranews Kalbar) - A bridge spanning the Kunyit river has caved in, causing heavy traffic jam in the Mempawah highway between Singkawang and Pontianak in West Kalimantan on Sunday.
Repair is taking place in the 200-meter Landak bridge spanning the Kunyit river in the district of Mempawah, that cars are allowed to pass one by one through a special lane.
"A car has to wait for more than an hour until it has its turn to get across through the damage bridge," Shelvi, a driver of car on its way from Singkawang to Pontianak.
Most of the cars were on their way back to Pontianak after a trip to Singkawang and other places in the Sambas district in northern part of West Kalimantan the main tourist destination in the province.
Normally the trip between Pontianak and Singkawang could be covered in three to four hours but with the long queuing to cross the Kunyit river, it could take twice longer, Shelvi said.
The Landak bridge is the main and only one spanning the Kunyit river between Singkawang and Pontianak.
Police had to work hard to control and arrange the cars one by one to be safe across through the damaged bridge.
The bridge in the village of Mendalok, is under heavy repair and an emergency channel had to be built to allow the cars to pass one by one.
Traffic jam, therefore, is unavoidable. On Sunday, traffic jam was as long as five kilometers.
Many Muslims had left Pontianak for home villages to celebrate Ied ul Fitr with relatives and non Muslim families left the provincial city to spend the part of the long holidays for recreation mainly in Singkawang, the main tourist destination in the province.
In Java, toll road are crowded with thousands of cars with Muslims returning from visits to home villages or towns to celebrate the Islamic holy days with relatives.
Millions of Muslims had left Jakarta before Ied ul Fitr and now on their way back home to the capital city.
No significant problem had been reported in the way thanks to long preparations for the safety and security of the travelers despite the heavy traffics.
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Kalimantan Barat 2018
Repair is taking place in the 200-meter Landak bridge spanning the Kunyit river in the district of Mempawah, that cars are allowed to pass one by one through a special lane.
"A car has to wait for more than an hour until it has its turn to get across through the damage bridge," Shelvi, a driver of car on its way from Singkawang to Pontianak.
Most of the cars were on their way back to Pontianak after a trip to Singkawang and other places in the Sambas district in northern part of West Kalimantan the main tourist destination in the province.
Normally the trip between Pontianak and Singkawang could be covered in three to four hours but with the long queuing to cross the Kunyit river, it could take twice longer, Shelvi said.
The Landak bridge is the main and only one spanning the Kunyit river between Singkawang and Pontianak.
Police had to work hard to control and arrange the cars one by one to be safe across through the damaged bridge.
The bridge in the village of Mendalok, is under heavy repair and an emergency channel had to be built to allow the cars to pass one by one.
Traffic jam, therefore, is unavoidable. On Sunday, traffic jam was as long as five kilometers.
Many Muslims had left Pontianak for home villages to celebrate Ied ul Fitr with relatives and non Muslim families left the provincial city to spend the part of the long holidays for recreation mainly in Singkawang, the main tourist destination in the province.
In Java, toll road are crowded with thousands of cars with Muslims returning from visits to home villages or towns to celebrate the Islamic holy days with relatives.
Millions of Muslims had left Jakarta before Ied ul Fitr and now on their way back home to the capital city.
No significant problem had been reported in the way thanks to long preparations for the safety and security of the travelers despite the heavy traffics.
Editor : Teguh Imam Wibowo
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Kalimantan Barat 2018