Repair of Collapsed Road on Trans-Sumatra Takes a Long Time, Vehicles Asked to Use Alternative Route

JAMBI, KOMPAS—Two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles are advised to use the Jambi-Padang Lama Road following the collapse of the National Sumatra Cross Road at the Bungo-Dharmasraya border. Meanwhile, six-wheeled vehicles and above are advised to use the Kerinci-South Solok Road.

"For private vehicles, four-wheeled travel, and minibuses, we direct them to take Jalan Padang Lama through Tebo Regency," said the Director of Traffic of the Jambi Regional Police, Commissioner Dhafi, Monday (3/3/2025).

This alternative route, Dhafi continued, was once the main access from Jambi to Padang before the construction of the Trans-Sumatra National Road. He mentioned that the road's condition is still good and can be used by vehicles, although it is not very wide.

Dhafi recommends that road users use it temporarily. The reason is, rebuilding a collapsed road can take days.

For six-wheeled vehicles and above, he continued, they are directed to pass through the Kerinci-South Solok Road. He stated that the travel time might be longer. However, choosing to use that road is far better than waiting for road repairs that could take days.

Large-tonnage coal transport vehicles are not recommended to pass through the Kerinci-South Solok National Road. The reason is the steep terrain at several points, which makes trucks prone to overturning.

Previously, the Trans-Sumatra National Road collapsed due to heavy rain in Bungo Regency, Jambi, on Sunday afternoon (2/3/2025). Traffic activities on the road connecting West Sumatra and Jambi were temporarily brought to a complete halt.

Its location is in Tukum Village, Jujuhan Subdistrict, Bungo, not far from the border between Bungo and Dharmasraya, West Sumatra. The road collapse occurred because the culvert beneath it was unable to withstand the water flow due to heavy rainfall.

Head of the Dharmasraya Police Traffic Unit, Assistant Commissioner Zamrinaldi, said that the broken culvert caused the Trans-Sumatra National Road to break completely by around 12 meters.

Although there are alternative routes, Dhafi still appealed for coal mining transportation to stop operating temporarily. Coal trucks that had filled the road because they could not pass were finally directed to turn back.

"We directed them to return to the stockpile location temporarily," he said.

He did not recommend large-tonnage coal transport to pass through the Kerinci-Solok Selatan National Road. The reason is the steep terrain conditions at several points. He is worried that a truck overturning could have fatal consequences and cause congestion.

Head of Jambi National Road Implementation Center, Ibnu Kurniawan said, starting Monday, his party installed a bailey bridge to connect the broken national road. Installation is estimated to take approximately a week.

"For the time being, emergency measures will be taken to ensure the Bungo-West Sumatra cross-country road remains functional," he said.

Bailey bridge is a temporary bridge made of lightweight steel frame and easy to move. The installation of this bridge is usually done for emergency conditions.