Barelang Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Barelang Bridge is a chain of 6 bridge
s of various types that connect the islands of Batam
, Rempang
, and Galang
(Indonesia), giving the system its name. The smaller islands of Tonton, Nipah, and Setotok (considered as parts of the Batam Island chain itself) connect Batam and Rempang, the entire Barelang region covers 715 km². The bridge is an icon of the local area and is a popular tourism
site. Some locals call the bridge Jembatan Habibie after Jusuf Habibie
, who oversaw the project in construction, aiming to transform the Rempang and Galang islands into industrial sites (resembling present-day Batam). However, the bridge site has grown more into a tourist attraction rather than a transportation route.
The full stretch of all 6 bridges total to 2 kilometers. Traveling from the first bridge to the last is about 50 km takes about 50 minutes. Construction of the bridges was started in 1992 and took names from fifteenth- to eighteenth-century rulers of the Melayu-Riau Kingdom.
The Tengku Fisabilillah bridge connects Batam and Tonton island. It stretches for 642 meters and is the most popular bridge of all, being a cable-stayed bridge
with two 118 m high pylons and main span 350 m. Tonton-Nipah Bridge is a cantilever bridge
with total length 420 m and main span 160 m. Setoko-Nipah Bridge is a girder bridge
with total length 270 m and main span 45 m. Setoko-Rempang Bridge is a cantilever bridge with total length 365 m and main span 145 m. Barelang Bridge (Rempang-Galang Bridge) is a arch bridge
with total length 385 m and main span 245 m.
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s of various types that connect the islands of Batam
Batam
Batam is an island and city in Riau Islands Province of Indonesia, known for its free trade zone area as part of the Sijori Growth Triangle, is located off Singapore's south coast...
, Rempang
Rempang
Rempang is an island, located 2,5 km South-East of Batam,165.83 km². belonging to a group of three islands called Barelang A member of the Riau Archipelago, in the Riau Islands province of Indonesia, Rempang is located just south of Batam and north of Galang which themselves are just south...
, and Galang
Galang
"Galang" is the first single from M.I.A.'s album Arular. It is written by Maya Arulpragasam , Justine Frischmann, Ross Orton and Steve Mackey. The word 'galang' comes from the Jamaican patois for 'go on'. The first time Arulpragasam released "Galang", in 2003, it was released on an indie label,...
(Indonesia), giving the system its name. The smaller islands of Tonton, Nipah, and Setotok (considered as parts of the Batam Island chain itself) connect Batam and Rempang, the entire Barelang region covers 715 km². The bridge is an icon of the local area and is a popular tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
site. Some locals call the bridge Jembatan Habibie after Jusuf Habibie
Jusuf Habibie
Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie , also known B. J. Habibie, was the third and shortest-serving President of Indonesia, serving from 1998 to 1999.-Early life and career:...
, who oversaw the project in construction, aiming to transform the Rempang and Galang islands into industrial sites (resembling present-day Batam). However, the bridge site has grown more into a tourist attraction rather than a transportation route.
The full stretch of all 6 bridges total to 2 kilometers. Traveling from the first bridge to the last is about 50 km takes about 50 minutes. Construction of the bridges was started in 1992 and took names from fifteenth- to eighteenth-century rulers of the Melayu-Riau Kingdom.
The Tengku Fisabilillah bridge connects Batam and Tonton island. It stretches for 642 meters and is the most popular bridge of all, being a cable-stayed bridge
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
with two 118 m high pylons and main span 350 m. Tonton-Nipah Bridge is a cantilever bridge
Cantilever bridge
A cantilever bridge is a bridge built using cantilevers, structures that project horizontally into space, supported on only one end. For small footbridges, the cantilevers may be simple beams; however, large cantilever bridges designed to handle road or rail traffic use trusses built from...
with total length 420 m and main span 160 m. Setoko-Nipah Bridge is a girder bridge
Girder bridge
A girder bridge, in general, is a bridge built of girders placed on bridge abutments and foundation piers. In turn, a bridge deck is built on top of the girders in order to carry traffic. There are several different subtypes of girder bridges:...
with total length 270 m and main span 45 m. Setoko-Rempang Bridge is a cantilever bridge with total length 365 m and main span 145 m. Barelang Bridge (Rempang-Galang Bridge) is a arch bridge
Arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
with total length 385 m and main span 245 m.