PUPR Team Takes Soil Samples To Repair The Gladak Perak Lumajang Bridge That Was Destroyed By Lahar of Semeru Eruption

LUMAJANG - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) team through the National Road Implementation Center (BBPJN) took soil and hard rock samples at the point where the Gladak Perak bridge broke, in Pronojiwo District, Lumajang Regency, East Java.

The Malang Regent's Disaster Expert, Bagyo Setiono, said that the soil sample was taken to determine the type of construction that would be used to build the bridge.

"The team from PUPR took soil samples to the hardest rock at what depth. This will be taken into consideration in making a construction plan," said Bagyo, quoted by Antara, Thursday, December 9.

Bagyo explained, until now it is still unknown how the details of the construction of the new bridge connecting Malang Regency with Lumajang Regency are.

However, he continued, there is a possibility that the new bridge to be built will be higher than the old bridge which was destroyed by the lava, when Mount Semeru erupted on December 4, 2021.

"This will be rebuilt soon, maybe the bridge construction will be elevated. This is a quick reaction from PUPR, in this case, the National Road Authority," he said.

Soil sampling at the site of the collapse of the Gladak Perak Bridge was carried out approximately ten meters from the end of the remaining bridge. The soil sampling was carried out by approximately ten people.

Bagyo added that the soil sampling will be carried out on two sides, both from the side adjacent to the Malang Regency area, and the side located in the Lumajang Regency area.

For now, soil sampling is carried out on the accessible side of the Malang Regency area. "This will be done at two points, here and on the other side," he said.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the East Java Highway Center Drill Team, Mariyono, added that sampling was carried out by drilling approximately 30 meters deep, including checking the contours of the soil and the hardest rock.

"The planned depth is approximately 30 meters, but it will continue if it has not met the hardest rock," he said.

Soil sampling on the side in Lumajang Regency, he continued, will be carried out by a different team. However, the sampling of the soil still has to wait for the evacuation process of the damaged road that was hit by the lava flow.

"From the Lumajang side, the team is different. But they are still waiting for the road evacuation process, because it is still closed by landslides," he said.

For information, access from Malang Regency to Lumajang Regency is currently completely cut off. The Gladak Perak Bridge broke down due to the brunt of the lava when Mount Semeru erupted.