Southeast Aceh District, Aceh (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Public Works (PU), in collaboration with state-owned construction company Hutama Karya (HK), is accelerating the revitalization of bridges along the Blangkejeren–Kutacane highway, which connects Gayo Lues District and Southeast Aceh District, after the route was cut off by flooding.

One of the affected bridges is located in Lawe Mengkudu Village, Southeast Aceh District, and serves as a vital access point along the highway.

HK Field Supervisor Dahlan Simbolon said on Tuesday that repair work involved establishing an alternative route using jumbo bags filled with sand and river stones as temporary supports.

“At the initial stage, we installed protection using jumbo bags before starting the main work to maintain traffic flow. This is a temporary solution, as permanent construction on the bridge will follow,” he said.

Simbolon added that the next phase will involve the installation of bored piles to construct a retaining wall (DPT) to strengthen the bridge structure.

To accelerate the work, four excavators and ten workers have been deployed to the site.

Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo said his ministry continues to expedite the restoration of connectivity infrastructure following floods and landslides in several regions across Sumatra.

He stressed that reopening land access remains the government’s top priority, despite challenging conditions in the field.

“Our first priority is to reopen road access so that aid and equipment can enter safely. The Ministry of Public Works will continue to deploy additional heavy equipment and personnel as needed, and will coordinate closely with the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) and local governments to ensure an effective response,” Hanggodo said.

According to data from the Ministry of Public Works, floods and landslides in Aceh Province have resulted in 46 landslides and 34 flood-affected areas, impacting 35 national roads and 14 bridges.

The ministry is also carrying out repairs on damaged national roads by applying aggregate and asphalt fill, installing gabions and geotextiles, constructing retaining walls in landslide-prone areas (DPT), covering unstable slopes with tarpaulins, and conducting backfilling and compaction.

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Translator: Sean Filo M, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Primayanti
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