Bridging Loan anyone?

Touted by the government as an important step in infrastructural development, the Suramadu Bridge, almost 5-1/2” kilometers long was opened last week by Indonesia’s president.

It did not take long for the word to get out that this bridge served a dual purpose, not only does it link Java to the island of Madura, it also serves as a smorgasboard type buffet for scrap dealers. So far 42 maintenance lamps, assorted nuts and bolts and quite possibly some suspension cable has been nicked from the bridge! 

The bridge had been built by a Chinese contractor and this quote appeared in the Jakarta Globe, who strangely added an amusing little twist in the tale.

“The contractor also reported that hardware had been stolen from railings on the bridge, and signs of cutting were found on some of the cables supporting the bridge’s main span. 

“These are acts of vandalism. The thief could be from anywhere, from Madura or even from Java,”

The Globe added this little gem: He did not elaborate, but a commonly held stereotype of Madurese is that many of them make a living by collecting and selling scrap metal. 

Brilliant, the Globe stopped just short of claiming that the Madurese are pikey scrap dealers, who are now eyeing the bridge as rich pickings.

Rather more amusingly, this does not appear to be uncommon. A spokesman for Jasa Marga, (the company which is currently operating the bridge (as well as most of Java’s Toll Roads) carried on with information on pilfering, specifically traffic signs.

“We already know the season when people steal these aluminium traffic signs, which are then used to produce computer casings or even cooking pots,” he said. 

At certain times of the year, aluminum traffic signs are replaced with ones made of plywood, and switched back again once the peak selling season has passed, he said.

As they say, watch this space, it took years to construct this new technical marvel, but, it looks like the locals may be able to deconstruct it in a much shorter timescale!