Enjoying the scenery turns nine when crossing the route back and forth West Sumatra - Riau

BUKITTINGGI - Lebaran homecoming while enjoying natural attractions may have been prevalent in many places. But enjoy the beauty of architecture and elaborate construction in balantara forest with the beauty of panorama not necessarily easy to find.

From that little bit, the beauty of Kelok Sembilan Bridge with the natural scenery of Bukit Barisan forest is probably one of the things to be grateful for.

Yes, travelers who pass through the province of West Sumatra - Riau, will certainly be pampered with panoramic sanctuary and mountains, and of course the construction of a solid bridge.

Pemudik, generally from Pekanbaru with the aim of Bukittinggi and Padang, will be immediately greeted the beauty of the bridge which was built since 2003 and completed in 2013.

Especially users of two-wheeled vehicles and four wheels. Taking a four-hour drive from Pekanbaru, Kelok Sembilan Bridge is indeed the best alternative for transit releasing fatigue.

Ade (26), a local resident admitted, Kelok Sembilan Bridge becomes a stop for road users either from Pekanbaru, or vice versa from Padang or Bukittinggi.

Road users, just pause for a swafoto, drink break, or just an eye-catcher enjoying the scenery and breathing in the cool air of Bukit Barisan.

"Usually crowded, let alone want Lebaran. From Pekanbaru [West Sumatera] is very busy, "he said on Saturday (17/06/2017).

He said, since the flyover is operated for public in 2013, then road users use it to rest. Moreover, its position is also near the border of West Sumatra - Riau, or can be spelled out halfway for riders from Pekanbaru and from Padang.

Meandered

Actually, the name of Nine Nine refers to a winding road through the hills in Nagari Sarilamak, Harau Sub-district, Limapuluh Kota Regency, West Sumatra.

The road, if stretched straight for only 300 meters with a 5 meter wide road built by the Dutch Colonial government in 1908-1914 to facilitate transportation from the port of Emma Haven [Bayur Bay] west of Sumatra to the east.

However, as time progressed, the road could no longer accommodate the volume of vehicles passing through the route, resulting in inevitable congestion. The solution, it is proposed making a flyover through two hills that flank the road.

So in 2003, the construction of Kelok Sembilan Bridge was held by the Ministry of Public Works (now Ministry of Public Works and People's Housing) with the concept of green construction or environmentally friendly because it is in the nature reserve area. Construction of the bridge at a cost of Rp580 billion was done within a period of 10 years.



The Kelok Sembilan Bridge is divided into six bridges with connecting roads along more than 1.5 kilometers.

For the six bridges, each has a different length. The first bridge with a length of 20 meters, the second bridge 230 meters, the third bridge 65 meters, the fourth bridge the longest 462 meters, the fifth bridge 31 meters, and the sixth bridge along 156 meters.

Tourist icons

The bridge has a width of 13.5 meters, making it very spacious for vehicles that pass through it. In fact, on the side of the bridge is also given enough space, so that road users can park the vehicle.

Because, Kelok Sembilan Bridge has become a transit location and a new tourist icon in the area, so many people who use the moment to trade.

So do not be surprised, if you pass the path it will be found a lot of traders on the top of the bridge from the direction of Riau. They provide roasted corn, young coconut ice, and other snacks.

For Idul Fitri this year, the government is preparing one of its poskonya in Kelok Sembilan Jembatan area. Pokso is also provided will be heavy in the form of dump trucks, excavators, and other equipment in anticipation of disaster.

"We also provide a standby post in Kelok Sembilan to ensure the Padang - Pekanbaru route is smoothly during Idul Fitri," said Head of National Road Implementation Center (BPJN) III, Syaiful Anwar.
The monitoring team BPJN III to that location found along the 205 kilometer segment of Padang - Bukittinggi - Riau boundary in good condition.

In fact, road damage caused by floods and landslides at Pangkalan early March, which had caused access to West Sumatra - cut off, now no longer left, change the smooth expanse of asphalt.