Legislators Demand 7 Critical Bridges in Aceh to be Rebuilt: This is the National Main Route

JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Aceh electoral district, Ruslan M. Daud, urged the central government to immediately rebuild seven critical bridges on the central cross-Aceh route whose condition is no longer adequate after the flood and landslide disasters.

According to Ruslan, the delay in handling has the potential to cut off the national line and isolate the central area of Aceh.

"This is the main national cross-central line. If this access is disrupted, the impact is very wide, ranging from the isolation of the community to a spike in the price of basic necessities," Ruslan said in his statement, Monday, December 29.

Ruslan emphasized that the reconstruction of the bridge must be carried out with careful planning and the right scheme. One of the options that need to be considered is the shifting of the location of the bridge from the old point by taking into account the geographical conditions, river flow, and safety factors.

"Construction must be preceded by technical studies, ranging from soil structure, water discharge, to potential disasters. If it is safer to shift, then it must be done," he said.

The seven bridges of concern are located in the middle lane, namely the Teupin Mane Bridge KM 10, Wehni Kulus KM 47, Enang-Enang KM 50, Krung Rongka KM 60, Tenge Besi KM 62, Timang Gajah KM 65, Jamur Ujung Bridge KM 80, and one box culvert at Lampahan KM 73.

According to Ruslan, the road has been the backbone of transportation of people and goods in the central area of Aceh. Therefore, he emphasized, the type and design of the bridge that will be rebuilt must take into account the level of vulnerability to disasters, especially landslides.

"Central areas have a high level of disaster vulnerability. The rebuilt bridge must be really strong and safe so that it does not break again when a disaster occurs," said the PKB legislator for Aceh.

The member of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives also encouraged the Ministry of Public Works through the Directorate General of Road Construction to carefully calculate the potential for disasters in determining the design of the bridge. Ruslan emphasized that the Bireuen route is the best access connecting the Gayo plateau and the central Aceh region to Medan and Banda Aceh.

"This concerns the survival of the community and the pulse of the regional economy. The central cross-line must be immediately ensured to be safe, viable, and optimally functioning," he said.