East Jakarta targets completion of collapsed bridge repair in Ciracas within a month

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The East Jakarta City Government (Pemkot) is targeting the completion of repairs to the collapsed drainage channel bridge (Phb) on Jalan Pule RW 10, Ciracas Ward, Ciracas Subdistrict, within one month. “The repair of the collapsed Phb drainage channel bridge on Jalan Pule RW 10, Ciracas Ward/Subdistrict, is being expedited,” said the Head of the East Jakarta Road Infrastructure Service, Benhard Hutajulu, in Jakarta on Thursday. The bridge previously collapsed on Wednesday (15/4), disrupting access for residents in the surrounding area. Benhard explained that the initial phase of work includes repairing the Phb channel’s retaining wall, 4.5 metres long and 1.5 metres high. The bottom of the retaining wall is 40 centimetres wide, and the top is 30 cm. “We are repairing the retaining wall because it is part of the bridge structure on that Phb channel,” Benhard clarified. The bridge to be rebuilt is approximately 9 metres long and 5 metres wide. Safety railings or iron barriers, with a diameter of 3 to 3.5 inches and about 80 cm high, will be installed on both the left and right sides. The bridge repair involves 12 personnel from the Road Infrastructure Task Force, collaborating between the Service and the Ciracas Subdistrict Implementation Unit. So far, there are no significant obstacles other than weather factors, while material availability is sufficient. With this repair, Benhard hopes that residents’ access will return to normal and the potential for flooding due to water overflow around the bridge can be minimised. Meanwhile, Ciracas Subdistrict Head Panangaran Ritonga stated that dozens of personnel from the Road Infrastructure and Water Resources (SDA) Task Force have begun collaborating on handling the bridge since Thursday (16/4), a day after the collapse. The initial phase of work focuses on clearing the bridge debris that had blocked the water flow. After that, the work proceeds to the technical phase. “The Road Infrastructure Task Force is handling the bridge part, while the Water Resources are repairing the water channel’s retaining wall beside the bridge,” Ritonga said. As of now, the work progress has reached about 10 to 15 percent.