Travelers Warned Bridge Connecting Bali Tourist Islands Closed For Maintenance

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The famous yellow bridge that connects Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan Island will be closed for 24 hours for essential maintenance. The bridge will be closed from 10 am to 10-am on 26-27th July 2022. The Klungking regency government has told locals that the repairs to the bridge are small but essential and that the team will be working as quickly as possible to avoid any further inconvenience.

Repair teams have said they will try and keep the bridge open for pedestrians to cross but no vehicles, including mopeds, will be able to cross for the next 24 hours. The spokesman for the repair contractors, I Ketut Gede Arjaya, told local news reporters ‘We have informed all Ceningan-Lembongan-Jungutbatu residents and the general public, as well as visitors that the Yellow Bridge routine maintenance will be carried out’.

The repairs are for a 180cm x 180 cm area of the bridge that has experienced serious corrosion. Arjaya said ‘. “We hope that with the quick steps to repair this bridge, there will not be a disaster like before, namely the breaking of the Yellow Bridge’.

The local government and construction companies are keen to keep the yellow bridge well maintained. On 16th October 2016, the old bridge crossing from Nusa Ceningan to Nusa Lembongan suddenly collapse. The incident killed eight people who were traveling to the local temple for evening prayers. A further 37 people were seriously injured.

It was discovered that the old bridge collapsed due to corrosion on the suspension springs. Reports from the time also suggest that the bridge was overloaded at the time of the collapse. Following the incident, the old bridge was completely removed and a new yellow suspension bridge was built.

Maintenance of the bridge is nearly constant and the last repair work was done 3 weeks ago which highlighted the work that is being done this week. Jati Laksana who is the Head of the Klungkung Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing and Settlement Area said that ‘The repairs use a routine maintenance budget sourced from the APBD of around Rp. 30 million to Rp. 40 million (USD 2000-2500)’.

For tourists on Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan Island in the next 24 hours who need to get from one island to another, local hosts will have options available. The pedestrian option for crossing the bridge is safe and hosts can help travelers arrange onward travel after crossing.

Nusa Ceningan Island is the smallest of the Nusa Islands and is sandwiched between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. The tiny island has a lot to explore for travelers including the Blue Lagoon and Mahana Point. It is possible to stay on Nusa Ceningan but many travelers find their accommodation on Nusa Lembongan and nip across to have a day trip around Ceningan.

The Nusa Islands sit just off the coast of Bali and are accessible by fast boat. Some people visit the Nusa Islands on day trips while others choose to stay a few days for a holiday within a holiday, Much like Bali’s southern coast, the Nusa Islands were struck hard by the impact of lockdown.

As the peak season is in full flow the Nusa Islands are welcoming back tourists from all around the world. The quaint guesthouses overlooking the ocean, affordable hostels, and array of AirBnBs make the islands increasingly popular.

The Nusa Islands are popular with influencers, backpackers, and off-the-beaten-track travelers who want to experience another side of Indonesian island life. Although islands in their own right, the Nusa Islands are governed by the Bali provincial authorities.

Travelers can reach Lembongan Island by fast boat which takes around 45-minutes and leaves multiple times a day from both Sanur Harbour and Benoa Harbour.