Cidaileun Ambles Bridge, Tasimalaya Regency Government Prepares Alternative Routes

A number of residents saw the condition of the collapsed bridge in Cigalontang District, Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java, Monday (8/5/2023). (PHOTO BETWEEN ANTARA/Feri Purnama)

TASIKMALAYA - The Tasikmalaya Regency Government (Pemkab), West Java has prepared an alternative route by opening an old road to overcome community problems related to road access due to the condition of the collapsed bridge road which was eroded by landslides in Cigalontang District.

"Later on, we plan to function the old road below, but it must be repaired first, dredged first," said the Head of the Tasikmalaya Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Endang Syahrudin, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, May 8.

The Cidugaleun Bridge has been an access for residents to connect Cigalontang District with Sariwangi suddenly parts of the road before entering the collapsed bridge road, Sunday (7/5) 2023.

This condition, he said, certainly cannot be used by residents to pass motorized vehicles, and is dangerous at night, so an alternative way is needed so that people can carry out activities as usual.

His staff in mutual cooperation with the community closed the waterways so as not to continue to erode the connecting road to the bridge.

"Meanwhile, mutual cooperation to close the waterways is due to the pressure of the incoming water, the oprit (road body before the bridge) was carried away by landslides," said Endang Syahrudin.

Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office of Public Housing and Settlement and Environment Areas of Tasikmalaya Regency, Fuad Abdul Aziz, said that his party would open an old road under the Cidugaleun Bridge so that residents could return to their activities across the Cikunten River safely and easily.

The condition of the alternative road, he said, had not been used for a long time, so it was necessary to bring in heavy equipment to facilitate the opening of the old lane.

"It is an old road whose condition is currently covered by material, we are bringing in heavy equipment to be able to handle it," he said.

After the alternative road is cleaned, it can be passed by people and motorized vehicles from Cigalontang to Sariwangi or vice versa.

The subsidence incident, he said, did not actually make people isolated, because there were other alternative roads that could be passed by motorized vehicles, but the problem was that the distance was quite far.

"The temporary handling step is to re-function the road under the bridge, the road is the main access for the community before the bridge is built," he said.

The road incident that was eroded by a landslide was caused by the impact of heavy rain and then the flow of water eroded the road so that the road to the bridge collapsed.

The incident did not cause any casualties, or caused the vehicle to fall, only causing the road not to be passed by vehicles from both directions.

"Officers from the Tasikmalaya BPBD have installed bars and warnings, and residents have even alerted them to inform motorists not to enter the road," said Fuad.