Gladak Perak Lumajang Suspension Bridge Opens Again

LUMAJANG - The Gladak Perak suspension bridge over the Besuk Sat River through which the cold lava flows from Mount Semeru in Sumberwuluh Village, Lumajang Regency, East Java, has been reopened. The suspension bridge was closed due to a landslide.

"In principle, the suspension bridge was not damaged, but some time ago one of the cliffs from the Pronojiwo sub-district experienced a slight landslide," said Candipuro sub-district secretary Abdul Aziz in Lumajang, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, May 24.

According to him there is no problem with the bridge. While the cliffs on the side of Pronojiwo District are stable, so that people can pass as long as it doesn't rain which might cause the cliffs to slide again.

"We also urge the public to always be careful when crossing the Gladak Perak suspension bridge, especially when it is raining in the local area," he said.

The area around the Gladak Perak suspension bridge is prone to landslides when it rains in the Candipuro or Pronojiwo sub-districts, so that if there is an avalanche of soil or rock around it, the temporary bridge will be closed again.

"The suspension bridge was closed some time ago to protect and anticipate casualties, so it was temporarily closed. As long as there is no potential for rock slides, people are still allowed to cross the suspension bridge," he said.

Previously, the Gladak Perak suspension bridge that connected Candipuro District with Pronojiwo District in Lumajang Regency was temporarily closed due to landslides that occurred at several points in the suspension bridge area on May 11, 2022.

The suspension bridge is only used for two-wheeled vehicles, three-wheeled vehicles and access to emergency vehicles such as ambulances, so that public access in two sub-districts namely Candipuro and Pronojiwo can return to normal after the hot cloud disaster from Mount Semeru.

The suspension bridge built by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) is only an emergency bridge, meaning that it will only be used temporarily before the permanent bridge is rebuilt.