PUPR Minister Basuki Visits West Sumatra, Roads And Bridges Damaged Due To Floods Will Be Repaired

The Governor of West Sumatra, Mahyeldi accompanied the Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono to review the condition of the Kiambang Bridge in Padang Pariaman which was damaged by the flood, Thursday (11/1/2024). ANTARA/HO-Biro Adpim West Sumatra

West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi said the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono had ordered the West Sumatra Road Implementation Center to immediately repair roads and bridges on the Sumatra highway damaged by the flood.

"The Minister of PUPR reviewed a number of infrastructure projects in West Sumatra today, Thursday (11/1) morning. During this visit, he ordered the Road Implementation Center to immediately prepare road repairs in Silingkang Oso and the Kiambang Bridge to immediately tender it," he said in Padang as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, January 11.

The bridge that is in the spotlight of the Minister of PUPR is the Bridge in Kiambang, Padang Pariaman, which is the Padang-Pekanbaru Sumatra Cross Road. Meanwhile, the roads were flooded and flooded in Silungkang Oso, which is part of the Sumatra Sumatra-Jakarta Cross Road.

"This road and bridge are important because they are on the main route connecting West Sumatra with neighboring provinces. It is important to repair it immediately," he said.

Mahyeldi said the roads and bridges, because they are on the Sumatran highway, are under the central authority through the National Road Implementation Center.

However, according to him, the West Sumatra Provincial Government will help repair the roads and bridges in accordance with existing authorities.

Currently, the condition of the bridge in Kiambang, Padang Pariaman cannot be passed and has been closed since the milestone of the center of the bridge was eroded by flood currents, in September last year.

However, because the bridge is a twin bridge parallel, the other bridge, which is not damaged, can still be passed by vehicles. However, the flow of transportation at that point becomes somewhat stagnant and has the potential for traffic jams.

Meanwhile, the road that was dumped in Silungkang Oso was also damaged by the flood. Under the road there is a puddle of water that has also shifted so that it is dangerous to pass.

"We hope that this road and bridge can be completed soon so that the land route from West Sumatra to Riau and West Sumatra to Jakarta can return smoothly," he said.

In addition to highlighting the damaged roads and bridges, the PUPR officer also reviewed the Padang-Pekanbaru Toll Road construction project for the Padang-Sicincin section, which is currently still in the process of being worked on.