jfid – The Bali Mandara Toll Road, also known as the Nusa Dua-Ngurah Rai-Benoa Toll Road, is a toll road built on a bridge that spans Benoa Bay.
This 12.7-kilometer toll road connects the city of Denpasar and South Kuta in the Badung Regency, Nusa Dua, and Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Constructed at a cost of IDR 2.48 trillion (USD 220 million), the toll road aims to alleviate traffic congestion on the Ngurah Rai Bypass, which previously was the only road connecting areas on the opposite side of the airport.
Construction of the toll road commenced in March 2012 and was completed in October 2013. The toll road was officially opened on September 23, 2013, by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during the APEC 2013 Summit in Bali.
Several world leaders have traversed this toll road, and it underwent modifications and adjustments in preparation for the G20 Summit in Bali 2022.
Managed by PT Jasamarga Bali Tol, a subsidiary of PT Jasamarga [id], which is a state-owned company, the toll road receives support from Indonesia Port Corporation III, the Bali Provincial Government, Badung Regency, Angkasa Pura I, Adhi Karya, Hutama Karya, Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation, and Wijaya Karya.
The name “Bali Mandara” was bestowed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during the toll road’s inauguration on September 23, 2013.
“Mandara” itself signifies Progress, Safety, Peace, and Prosperity; however, the name is considered more political as it is synonymous with the slogan created by the then-Governor of Bali, I Made Mangku Pastika, during his term.
In 2018, there were plans to change the name to the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Bridge, to honor the local hero I Gusti Ngurah Rai, and because the toll road is situated within the vicinity of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
The toll road has a unique feature: a dedicated lane for motorcycles separated from four-wheeled vehicles.
It is the only toll road in Indonesia that accommodates two-wheeled vehicles on a special lane classified under Group VI.
The toll fee for motorcycles on the Bali Mandara Toll Road is IDR 5,000. Additionally, this toll road is the first overwater toll road in Indonesia.
It stands as one of the world’s longest overwater toll roads, offering beautiful scenery during the drive, designed to preserve the aesthetics, architectural beauty, and cultural ornaments typical of Bali.
To enhance the smoothness and safety of driving, especially for motorcycle riders, wind speed measuring devices, in the form of IoT-based anemometers, have been installed at each toll gate (Nusa Dua, Ngurah Rai, and Benoa).
The Bali Mandara Toll Road has become an iconic tourist attraction in Bali, capturing the attention of both domestic and international tourists. It serves as an efficient and comfortable means of transportation for the people of Bali and its visitors.
