First use of 63.5 mm dia. GEWI ^® Bar in Indonesia

Kutai Kertanegara I Suspension Bridge, Tenggarong, Kutai, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

With over 17,000 islands and an overall area of 1.905 million km² Indonesia is the largest archipelago on earth. Many rivers and mountain chains run through this rugged island paradise. Against this background bridges play a special role in the continuing development of an efficient transportation infrastructure.
DSI played a decisive role in the construction of the Kutai Kertanegara I Suspension Bridge spanning the Mahakam River on the island of Kalimantan (Borneo). The bridge connects the cities of Tenggarong and Samarinda in East Kalimantan.

With a main span of 270 m the Kutai Kertanegara I Suspension Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in Indonesia. The total length of the bridge including main span, side spans and approach spans is 710 m. The navigation clearance is 15 m. Design and construction of the bridge were performed by local companies. The original design for the construction of the suspension bridge specified the use of post-tensioning bars. DSI Indonesia’s alternative solution proposed the use of 63.5 mm dia. GEWI ^® Bars for the following advantages:

• Ease of installation
• higher resistance to dynamic loads and
• simple maintenance.

A total of 1,650 m of 63.5 mm dia. GEWI ^® Bars together with anchor nuts, couplers and lock nuts were incorporated into the structure.
In addition, DYWIDAG Multistrand Permanent Ground Anchors with double corrosion protection and DYWIDAG THREADBARS ^® were used for the anchor pylon. DYWIDAG Post-Tensioning Systems were installed for the temporary back stay.
PT Citra DYWIDAG-Systems International supplied and installed the entire DYWIDAG Systems. The bridge was completed and opened for traffic in 2001.