Ampera Bridge, The Icon Of Palembang City

Ampera Bridge is a bridge in Palembang, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Ampera Bridge, which has become a kind of symbol of the city, situated in the middle of the city of Palembang, Sebrang Ulu and Sebrang Ilir connecting regions separated by the River Musi. Ampera Bridge is an authentic identity for the city of Palembang.

The idea to unify the two lands in the city of Palembang "Across the Ulu and Ilir Opposite" with the bridge, actually been around since the time of Gemeente Kilkenny, in 1906 AD. When the position occupied Palembang Mayor Le Cocq de Ville, 1924, the idea of ​​sticking it back and made ​​a lot of effort to make it happen. However, until the term of office ends Le Cocq, even when the Dutch pull out of Indonesia, the project was never realized.

At the time of independence, the idea of ​​sticking it back. Transitional Parliament of Palembang city back when it proposed the construction of the bridge, called the Musi Bridge with reference ma na-Musi River earlier stops, at the plenary session held on October 29, 1956. This proposal is actually quite desperate because the budget is in Palembang city that will be the initial capital of only around Rp 30.000,00. In 1957, the building committee was formed, made up of Regional Military Command Authority War IV / Srivijaya, Aaron Sohar, and the Governor of South Sumatra, HA Bastari. Companion, Mayor of Kilkenny, M. Ali Amin, and Indra Caya. This team approach to the Bung Karno to support the plan.

The work done and the Provincial Government of South Sumatra city of Palembang, which is fully supported by the Military District Command IV / Srivijaya was later to fruition. Bung Karno was then approved the proposed development. Because the bridge is planned to be built with each leg in the region 7 Ulu and Ilir 16, which means its position in the city center, Bung Karno then filed requirement. Namely, the placement of park boulevards or open at both ends of the bridge. Was performed in the appointment of executive development firm, with the signing of the contract on December 14, 1961, at a cost of USD 4.5 million (current exchange rate, the USD 1 = Rp 200.00).
Construction of this bridge started in April 1962, after obtaining the approval of President Sukarno. Construction cost of funds taken from the spoils of war Japan. Not just cost, even this bridge using experts from the country.
At first, this bridge, named Bung Karno's Bridge. According to historian Djohan Hanafiah, naming it as a form of tribute to the first President. Bung Karno earnest desire of citizens to fight for Palembang, to have a bridge over the River Musi.
Inauguration of the use of the bridge conducted in 1965, as well as confirming the name of Bung Karno as the name of the bridge. At that time, this bridge is the longest bridge in Southeast Asia. After the political upheaval in 1966, when the anti-Soekarno very strong, the bridge's name was changed to Ampera Bridge.

In the beginning, the middle body of this bridge can be lifted up so that the mast is not caught passing underneath the bridge entity. The middle of the bridge can be removed with mechanical equipment, two pendulum weights each about 500 tons in the two towers. Speed ​​appointment about 10 meters per minute with a total time required to lift full-bridge for 30 minutes.
At the center of the bridge removed, the vessels of 60 meters wide and with a maximum height of 44.50 meters, can pass the River Musi. When the center of the bridge is not removed, the maximum height that the ship could pass under the bridge Ampera is only nine feet from the surface of river water.
Past bridge the pride of the people of Palembang just simply be the interface of the other side other side of the upstream and downstream now everything is changed, the Ampera Bridge is now a cheap tourist attraction and must-see for tourists, especially outside the city of Palembang, even for local residents Ampera Bridge was not get enough to visited and just enjoy the atmosphere of the outskirts of the Musi River in the background Ampera Bridge.
Uniquely decorative lights that surround the Ampera Bridge is subject to change every few seconds, this is the main attraction, especially for photographers who want to perpetuate the Ampera Bridge with different colors.