ODOL Truck Urged Not to Cross Bailey Bridge in the Sumatra Disaster Area

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works (PU) appeals to all road users, especially drivers of freight vehicles, not to cross bailey emergency bridges with excess loads or Over Dimension Over Loading (ODOL) in the affected areas of Sumatra.

The use of bailey bridges must be in accordance with the maximum capacity to maintain the safety of road users and the sustainability of the temporary bridge function as a vital access to restore connectivity between regions.

Minister PU Dody Hanggodo emphasized that compliance with the bridge load limit is an important aspect in ensuring public safety, especially in areas that are in the recovery phase after disasters.

"Compliance with the tonnage rules is not only a technical issue, but also concerns mutual safety and concern for the community in disaster-affected areas," Dody said in an official statement, quoted on Monday, January 19.

The durability of temporary or semi-permanent bailey bridges is highly dependent on the compliance of road users with technical provisions, especially vehicle load limits.

The existence of the bridge is an emergency solution while waiting for the construction of a permanent bridge gradually.

Dody said that his party continued to build and install bailey bridges at a number of strategic points to replace bridges that were broken or severely damaged due to flash floods as part of accelerating post-disaster connectivity recovery in Sumatra.

ODOL vehicles also have the potential to endanger the bailey bridge structure, accelerate material fatigue, and increase the risk of structural failure that can threaten public safety and hinder disaster management efforts.

Until January 18, 2026, dozens of bailey bridges have been installed and functionalized on national road sections affected by disasters, including in the areas of Aceh Besar; Pidie; Pidie Jaya; Bireuen; North Aceh; Central Aceh; Gayo Lues; South Aceh; and Nagan Raya.

These bridges serve as temporary connections to support community mobility, logistics distribution, and the smooth running of basic services.

Several bailey bridges have been functionalized, including the Krueng Tingkem Bridge; Teupin Mane Bridge; Lawe Mengkudu Bridge; Lawe Penanggalan Bridge; Krueng Pelang Bridge; and Krueng Beutong Bridge.

All of these bridges are built to certain technical standards and have load limits that must be adhered to by road users.

One of the bridges that is a vital access is the Krueng Beutong bailey bridge which has been functional since January 9, 2026.

The bridge has a length of 30 meters and a width of 4.2 meters, with a maximum load capacity of up to 20 tons and is intended for light vehicles, emergency vehicles and limited logistics.

Bailey bridges in other locations, such as Krueng Tingkem and Teupin Mane, are temporary or semi-permanent modular steel frame bridge types.

All bailey bridges have undergone technical testing focused on the strength of the panel connection and frame rigidity.

The load test was carried out after the assembly process in the field to ensure that the bridge was fit for use.

In addition, traffic arrangements in the form of a system of opening and closing or restricting vehicle types are imposed to maintain the safety and smoothness of traffic flow during the recovery period.