TNI Fastens Bridge Repair in Aceh Disaster-Affected Areas

JAKARTA - The government together with the TNI continues to move quickly to repair the damaged bridges after the flood disaster in Acehagar so that community mobility and logistics distribution can immediately run normally.

Commander of the 16th Combat Zeni Battalion (Danyon Zipur) Lieutenant Colonel CZI Rudy Haryantomen explained that based on the data of the disaster handling post, there were at least 492 bridges in Aceh that were damaged or cut off due to flooding. The damage varies, ranging from permanent bridges to suspension bridges.

"Of these 492, we prioritize bridges that are national bridges or alternative roads that are the fastest to open roads to areas that are currently said to be isolated. That is the Bener Meriah and Takengon areas," said Rudy as quoted from a written statement from the Government Communication Agency (Bakom) RI, reported by ANTARA, Monday, January 19.

Rudy said the process of building an emergency bridge was not easy. Many bridges were covered with flood materials in the form of wood, house debris, and even some were completely washed away. In a number of locations, there are bridges that are still standing, but the road access to the bridge is eroded by the overflowing river flow.

"As we did in Teupin Mane, in the Juli (Bireuen) area, the river was 120 to 180 meters wide. It was a challenge in itself to be able to first clean up the work area, after that we prepared to install an emergency bridge to connect the broken road," he said.

Rudy said that after the flood occurred on November 26, TNI personnel in the region immediately went down to monitor. Once the water began to recede, the local Kodim ranks, together with the community and the local government, immediately carried out the cleaning.

Zipur 16 Battalion which is based in Banda Aceh started to enter the location in early December to prepare for the installation of the replacement bridge.

In the condition of limited heavy equipment, soldiers rely on human power. Heavy equipment support from the local government and the Ministry of Public Works has also helped accelerate the cleaning of materials that concern the bridge.

"The order is to immediately build a bridge. There we also previously saw the condition of the community who had to cross using a sampan, even some stretched the rope and used baskets. Seeing such conditions, our hearts were touched," said Rudy.

He emphasized that soldiers worked day and night with a 24-hour shift system so that the bridge could be immediately used by the community. One of the most difficult locations is the Teupin Reudeup Bridge in the Awe Geutah area, a strategic alternative route for Bireuen-Lhokseumawe.

The limited workspace and materials that are a combination of the old structure require improvisation so that the bridge remains safe to pass through.

Rudy stated that the success of the bridge construction could not be separated from cross-agency cooperation, including the support of the Aceh National Road Implementation Office (BPJN) and the Ministry of PUPR in providing materials and logistics.

"So, we help each other for logistics. Alhamdulillah we are also satisfied, so that members can carry out bridge installation with conditions that are similar to being satisfied for logistics," he said.