Thanks to the Sultan HajiOmar Ali Saifuddie Bridge, passengers can easily travel between the two territories of Brunei instead of having to spend 2 hours going around Malaysia as before.
Before the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien was put into operation in 2020, the title of the longest sea-crossing bridge in Southeast Asia belonged to Dinh Vu Bridge, Cat Hai in Vietnam with 5.44km. In 2014, the Sultan of Brunei started construction of a bridge named after his late father - Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien, with the function of connecting the mainland with the outlying region of Temburong, which is originally separated by the Sarawakian district of Limbang (Malaysia) and Brunei Bay in the South China Sea.
A crescent moon and five-pointed star - the symbol of Islam, the official religion of Brunei - sits atop the bridge.
Welcoming us in the early days of 2024, the tour guide of the local travel company Freme proudly introduced this project to visitors. Many people, before going to Temburong to explore the unique outdoor activities, where Ulu National Park is located, often stop at the bridgehead to take souvenir photos.
Since the largest project in the history of the Islamic country with a total investment of up to 1.6 billion USD, came into operation, passengers traveling between the two territories of Brunei without having to go through Malaysia as before, reducing 4 immigration checkpoints along the land route and shortening 3/4 of the travel time between Temburong and the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. Previously, if not going through Malaysia, people could also use the water taxi service, which took about 45 minutes to an hour.
The beauty of Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge seen from above
Few people know that the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge was opened ahead of schedule on March 17, 2020, one day after Brunei tightened its borders due to Covid-19, helping Temburong not be disconnected from the rest of the country. As a bridge across the sea, the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien has a clear view, 4 spacious lanes. Moving on the bridge, visitors can easily see Brunei's "gold mine", the country's largest oil refinery Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP), contributing about 90% of oil and gas revenue, bringing a prosperous economy to this monarchy.
Currently, the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge is still completing some final items, with a total length of 30 km.
Vehicles traveling on the bridge can reach speeds of 100 km/h, and in fact, our 50-seat vehicle traveled from one end of the bridge to the other in about 30 minutes. With a view straight out to the bay, this is also a romantic sunrise or sunset viewing spot that should not be missed when visiting Brunei. If you are lucky enough to visit during a celebration or major event in Brunei, you can see the colorful LED lights from the bridge lighting up a corner of Borneo Island.
Source link
Comment (0)