Sumbar-Jambi National Road Collapses, Emergency Bridge Will Enforce One-Way and Weight Restrictions

PADANG, KOMPAS - The Jambi National Road Implementation Center is preparing a bailey bridge at the location of the collapsed Trans-Sumatra National Road connecting West Sumatra and Jambi in Bungo Regency. The installation of this emergency bridge will take 4-7 days depending on weather conditions.

In the future, in addition to implementing an open-close system, there will be weight restrictions on the bridge. It is likely that heavy trucks will not be able to cross the bridge. The bridge's capacity can reach up to eight tons, but its safe limit is approximately five tons.

Head of the Jambi National Road Implementation Center (BPJN) Ibnu Kurniawan, Monday (3/3/2025), said that the materials for the bailey bridge had arrived at the location. His party is looking for workers for installation.

"The work has started. This preparation is also part of the work," he said.

In addition, Ibnu said, the office is also waiting for a shipment of geo bags or sand bags from the Sumatra VI Jambi River Region Office to protect the road from being eroded by water. The geo bags and sand bags were sent from Jambi since dawn and are expected to arrive at the location this afternoon.

Ibnu explained that normally the installation of a bailey bridge takes four days. However, the BMKG weather forecast states that Bungo will continue to rain every day, except Friday (7/3/2025). This unfavorable weather will affect the construction of the bridge.

"If under normal conditions, it would take four days to complete. If it keeps raining like this, it could take seven days, about a week. But we will try to finish it as soon as possible," said Ibnu.

According to Ibnu, the bailey bridge to be installed has a width of five meters and a span length of 30 meters. Once installed, traffic will be subject to an open-close system because it can only be passed by vehicles from one direction.

In addition to the open-close system, Ibnu stated that there would be weight restrictions. Thus, it is likely that heavy trucks will not be able to pass over the bridge. The bridge's capacity can reach up to eight tons, but its safe limit is around five tons.

Previously, the Trans-Sumatra National Road collapsed due to heavy rain in Bungo on Sunday (2/3/2025) at 3:20 PM. The location is in Tukum Village, Jujuhan Subdistrict, Bungo, not far from the border between Bungo and Dharmasraya, West Sumatra.

The road collapsed because the culvert beneath it was unable to withstand the water flow. "The culvert broke, and the Sumatra Cross Road was completely severed for about 12 meters," said the Head of the Dharmasraya Police Traffic Unit, Adjunct Commissioner Zamrinaldi, on Sunday.

As a result of the severance of the Trans-Sumatra Highway, said Zamrinaldi, traffic access from West Sumatra to Jambi or vice versa cannot be traversed by various types of vehicles, including two-wheelers, four-wheelers, six-wheelers, and those with three or more axles.

The police also implemented traffic engineering and diverted traffic flow from the direction of Padang to the old alternative route of Koto Baru-Tanjung Simalidu Muaro Tebo. Additionally, traffic flow from Simpang PT Peset/Simpang Ratu Balqis-Sitiung IV was redirected to Simpang Rantau Ikil Jambi.

Regarding this subsidence, Ibnu stated that, based on BMKG data, the rainfall at the time of the road collapse was quite high. In addition, information obtained by the agency indicated that there were also changes in land use around the location.

Changes in land use, said Ibnu, mean that water that was initially able to quickly seep into the ground, is ultimately unable to seep into the ground and pools.

"Usually the water flows slowly and the existing gutters are sufficient. However, because the capacity is no longer strong, there is already a lot of water, the road is broken," he said.

For permanent repairs, Ibnu said, the planning team is currently studying what solutions are suitable. The form could be in the form of installing a bridge, or it could be in the form of a short span bridge with the installation of a box culvert under the road.