Government to Build Shortcut Bridge in Enang-enang, Aceh

The government, via the Ministry of Public Works (PU), will build a shortcut bridge in the Enang-enang area of Bener Meriah Regency, Aceh, providing the public with three alternative road access options in the future. “The third alternative, we will build a shortcut over there (in the Enang-enang area),” said Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo in Bener Meriah, Aceh, on Wednesday. The statement was made after Dody visited the Enang-enang bridge and spoke with local residents to find solutions for transport access in the area following a disaster. The Enang-enang bridge or area is a national road access route connecting Bireuen Regency to the Gayo highlands (Bener Meriah, Central Aceh, Gayo Lues, and Southeast Aceh). Dody said that as a handling measure, the government does not plan to make the Enang-enang bridge permanent because it is no longer feasible, so it will only be strengthened to ensure residents can cross safely. “If we make it permanent there, the worry is that when heavy rain comes, there will be another landslide, and it will remain a problem,” he said. As a solution, the Ministry of Public Works will build a shortcut bridge in the area, with a planned maximum load of up to 30 tonnes, allowing it to be used by goods transport vehicles. Dody said that even after the shortcut is built, the original Enang-enang bridge will not be demolished and can serve as the first alternative transport access for local residents or small vehicles. In addition to the Enang-enang bridge, the Ministry of Public Works will also build another bridge in the Werlah area of Pintu Rime Gayo District, which has been used as an alternative route for residents travelling to Central Aceh Regency since the disaster. Beyond the bridge, on the Werlah route (a district road), the government will also widen the road to six metres from the previous four. Thus, in the future, there will be three alternative bridges available for use. “The second alternative for the community is the Werlah bridge. The third alternative, we will build a shortcut over there (near the Enang-enang bridge) if going to Werlah is a bit far. So later there will be three alternative roads for the community,” said Dody Hanggodo.