Gladak Perak Bridge And The Economic Pulse Of The Residents Of Mount Semeru

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LUMAJANG - The winding road that connects Malang Regency with Lumajang, East Java provides a unique experience. Although narrow, the road is the artery that connects the two regions.

Reported by Antara, Friday, December 10, crossing from the Pronojiwo District area to Candipuro, Lumajang Regency, the feel of a forest equipped with giant rock structures is an experience in itself and full of challenges for users of the Dampit-Lumajang Raya national road. This road section connects Pronojiwo and Candipuro, is equipped with a 129 meter stretch of Gladak Perak Bridge. The Silver Bridge is a vital connecting access for the Malang and Lumajang areas. The bridge that spans the Besuk Sat River, on December 4, 2021, was destroyed by a flood of lava due to the eruption of Mount Semeru. The feel of the forest, which is dominated by green, then changes. Walking down the road to the Gladak Perak Bridge after the eruption feels like a movie scene. Volcanic ash still clinging to asphalt, leaves, trees, and rocks seems to deceive the eye by presenting only one color in life, gray. The strong lava flow from the eruption of Mount Semeru destroyed the main bridge connecting the area. The eruption of the highest mountain on the island of Java also destroyed the old Silver Deck Bridge which was built in 1925-1940. At that point, there were two bridges that lined and stretched, as if to complete the landscape in the area. The old Silver Deck Bridge, when it was still standing, was no longer used for vehicular traffic. The old bridge stands on the north side of the new bridge built by the government in 1998-2001. The old Gladak Perak was built by the Dutch colonial government, with a width of about four meters and a length of 100 meters as a cultural heritage building. The two bridges are no longer standing firmly. The ruins of the two bridges were only partially visible, while the rest were crushed and swallowed by volcanic material. The arteries that connect Malang-Lumajang are severed. The impact of the disconnection of the Silver Deck Bridge is starting to be felt by the community, especially in Pronojiwo. There is no longer a back and forth of open-air vehicles transporting vegetables or sand which is their source of income. The passing of vehicles that support the area is replaced by the arrival of a number of heavy equipment and vehicles that carry aid for residents affected by the volcanic eruption which has a peak nicknamed "Mahameru". At present, it is still visible that there are vehicle activities that participate in the process of handling the Mount Semeru disaster in Pronojiwo. In that sub-district, at least 20 hectares of agricultural land were damaged and dozens of houses were destroyed. However, there is also the potential for a halt in the economy which is currently not very visible.

Small stalls On Jalan Raya Dampit-Lumajang, there are many small stalls run by local residents. These stalls have been complementary to meet the needs of motorists who pass by. Both drivers and shop owners need each other. The shop owner hopes that passers-by stop by for a moment and enjoy the simple dishes served before continuing the journey. As for motorcyclists, the existence of these small stalls is a fulfillment of needs when they want to rest or just enjoy a cup of coffee wrapped in the cool mountain air. One of the managers of a simple shop in Supiturang Village, Pronojiwo District, Yamini (35), said that the impact of the breaking of the Silver Deck Bridge was already starting to be felt. The daily turnover received at this time is down more than 50 percent compared to the normal situation. Although it looks simple, the stall managed by Yamini can get a turnover of up to Rp. 1.5 million per day. The income, which is worth a lot of money, comes from the drivers who stop by the stall. "There are no more cars passing by that deliver goods, vegetables, including sand trucks. Now they don't exist. Now the income is less than Rp. 500 thousand per day. ," he said. The income he received at this time, also did not describe the real conditions, the impact of the breaking of the Silver Deck Bridge. This is because at this time there are still a number of volunteers who stop by the shop. However, if later the volunteers tasked with helping to deal with the impact of the eruption of Mount Semeru have returned to their respective areas, he is very worried about the fate of the stall he manages. disaster, ed.) This is all over, the impact will be even greater. If there are no more visitors, we will close, but what will we eat," he said. The modern retail store network in Pronojiwo is also affected. For modern retail stores, the break in the Silver Bridge has hampered product distribution. So far, the distribution network for modern retail stores in Pronojiwo is supplied from Jember Regency. Product deliveries to retail store chains, which should be done every day, have been temporarily suspended. For large-scale business players, quick steps to solve these problems can be done easily. One of the assistants to the head of a modern retail store in Pronojiwo, Jiwo Harsoyo, said that since the break of the Perak Deck Bridge, the supply of a number of products has stalled. delivery every day. However, this has not recovered because the initial supply is from Jember," he said. Pronojiwo sub-district can be accessed from Malang Regency. For small business actors, the existence of the Silver Deck Bridge is the lifeblood of the economy which has been the foundation for life. However, the two business actors have the same hope. Both hope that the Silver Deck Bridge can be rebuilt soon, so that the economic flow that has been stopped or hampered can recover. Quick steps Because the bridge is one of the important infrastructures, the government is trying to take quick steps so that construction can be carried out immediately. However, development must also pay attention to the safety factor in the area. The presence of lava flows from the mountain which has a height of 3,676 meters above sea level (masl), is still a real threat. However, the government's first steps to build the bridge have been traced. Starting Thursday (9/12), the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) team through the National Road Implementation Center (BBPJN) took samples of soil to hard rock at the point of disconnection. Silver Deck Bridge.

Malang Regent of Disaster Management Expert Bagyo Setiono in Pronojiwo, Thursday (9/12), said that soil sampling was to determine the type of construction to build the bridge. "The PUPR team took soil samples to the hardest rock at what depth. later as a consideration to make a development plan," he said. The existence of the Silver Deck Bridge is very much needed by the community who depend on the traffic flow in the area. However, to reconnect the economic flow, it will take a long time. Even though it will take a long time, the residents at the foot of the mountain which has a crater called "Jonggring Saloko" still hope that the economic veins will soon be connected, so that their survival can be guaranteed.