Merah Putih Bridge Connects Maluku's Ambon Crossing Ambon Bay

RRI.CO.ID, Ambon – The Merah Putih Bridge (Jembatan Merah Putih) is a major road bridge in Ambon City, Maluku, Indonesia, spanning the Ambon Bay on Ambon Island. The bridge connects the city's Teluk Ambon District on the northern side and Sirimau District on the southern side, creating a direct road connection across the bay.

The bridge has a total length of 1,140 meters and was designed as a cable-stayed bridge with two main pylons. Its main bridge section is 300 meters long, consisting of a 150-meter central span and two 75-meter side spans.

The main bridge, named after the Indonesian national flag (Merah Putih means "red and white"), accommodates two carriageways with a total of four vehicle lanes. Its central span provides a clearance of about 34.1 meters above the water.

Before the bridge was built, road users traveling between Ambon's city center and areas on the northern and western parts of the island had to travel around Ambon Bay or use a ferry crossing. The bridge was developed in part to shorten travel distances and travel times between the city and surrounding areas, including Pattimura International Airport in Ambon's northern part.

Construction began in July 2011 and took several years before the bridge was completed. The project experienced delays during construction, including issues related to site conditions and an earthquake that affected the structure near the end of the construction period.

President Joko Widodo officially inaugurated the Jembatan Merah Putih on April 4, 2016, in a ceremony held on the bridge in Ambon. At the time of its inauguration, the 1,140-meter structure was described by the Indonesian government as the longest bridge in eastern Indonesia.

Today, the Merah Putih Bridge is a prominent piece of infrastructure in Ambon, crossing the deep waters of Ambon Bay while linking major road networks on both sides. Its location and cable-stayed design have also made the bridge a recognizable part of the city's landscape and a frequently documented landmark of Ambon and Maluku.