SERANGAN ISLAND ~ A government plan to build a bridge bypassing Kuta and connecting Serangan Island and Benoa has failed to draw offers from investors, an official told The Bali Times this week.

According to the head of Indonesian Contractors Association in Bali, Dwipa Kusuma, the difficulty lies in profit projections.

“It’s proving difficult to get the Rp700 billion (US$75.7 million) to finance the project,” said Kusuma.

The bridge is planned to be 8 kilometers in length and operated as a toll road.

Kusuma told The Times that changes need to be made in order to make the project more appealing to investors, particularly allowing motorcycles to use it.

“I think there needs to be a change in the regulations, such as allowing motorcyclists to use the toll road. That way, investors will get more revenue.”

“This is like comparing a bridge in Java and Bali. In Bali, even a bridge must have an aesthetic manner. So adapting to the situation in Bali, I believe the regulations can be modified,” he said.