Restore Sumatra Connectivity, the Ministry of PU Build 47 Permanent Bridges

The Ministry of Public Works (PU) continues to accelerate the permanent handling of 47 post-disaster bridges in Sumatra. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works (PU) continues to accelerate the rehabilitation and permanent reconstruction of 47 post-disaster bridges in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.

This step was taken to restore inter-regional connectivity after all emergency access in the affected areas had been successfully functional.

Until July 25, 2026, the Ministry of PU noted that 48 emergency bridge treatments along 1,876.3 meters had been functioning.

This handling is the initial stage before the government builds permanently on 47 bridges with a total length of 3,932.1 meters.

Minister PU Dody Hanggodo said that the restoration of infrastructure was carried out gradually so that community connectivity could recover immediately, while ensuring that the rebuilt bridges had better quality.

"What we are pursuing is not only the reconnection of connectivity, but also ensuring that the infrastructure that is being rebuilt can provide safe and reliable services for the community," said Dody, quoted from a written statement, Tuesday, July 28.

According to Dody, after emergency access was successfully restored, the government immediately continued the permanent rehabilitation and reconstruction so that the function of the infrastructure could return to optimal and be able to support community mobility in the long term.

Based on data from the Ministry of PU, emergency handling includes 25 points in Aceh consisting of 14 national bridges and 11 regional bridges.

Furthermore, there are 13 points in North Sumatra, namely nine national bridges and four regional bridges, and 10 points in West Sumatra consisting of seven national bridges and three regional bridges.

Various methods are applied in emergency handling according to conditions in the field, ranging from the installation of bailey bridges and box culverts, handling of ramps, strengthening of structures to cleaning of landslide materials and river channels.

As access has been temporarily restored, the PU Ministry is now working on the permanent rehabilitation and reconstruction of 47 bridges with an average progress of 34.38 percent.

The permanent handling includes 30 bridges in Aceh consisting of 21 national bridges and nine regional bridges.

Then eight national bridges in North Sumatra and nine bridges in West Sumatra consisting of four national bridges and five regional bridges.

A number of projects have even shown significant progress.

In Aceh, the Lawe Mengkudu I Bridge and the Ulee Langa Bridge have recorded construction progress of more than 90 percent.

In West Sumatra, there are four bridges, namely Marga Yasa A, Marga Yasa B, Sungai Indarung and Batang Lolo which have been completed 100 percent and are ready to support the community's activities again.

The PU Ministry emphasized that it would continue to coordinate with local governments and all stakeholders to accelerate the rehabilitation of post-disaster infrastructure in Sumatra.

This effort is expected to strengthen inter-regional connectivity, facilitate logistics distribution, support community mobility, and accelerate the recovery of social and economic activities in affected areas.