Padang City Government Accelerates Bridge Repairs and River Normalisation at Various Points
The Padang City Government, through the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR), is continuing maintenance and repair of infrastructure as part of efforts to restore and strengthen public facilities affected by disasters. A number of repair works are still ongoing at several points in Padang City as of Saturday (15/8).
The works currently being carried out include repairs to a culvert slab in Balai Gadang Sub-district, Koto Tangah District; repairs to the Kampung Baru Bridge in Bungus Timur Sub-district, Bungus Teluk Kabung District; repairs to a suspension bridge in Gunung Sarik Sub-district, Kuranji District; and repairs to a culvert slab on Jalan Rimbo Tarok, Gunung Sarik Sub-district, Kuranji District. All repairs are aimed at maintaining the function of infrastructure to keep it safe and support public mobility.
In addition to repairing connecting access, the Padang City PUPR Agency is also carrying out river normalisation in the Jalan Pasar Lalang area, Kuranji District, to improve river flow and reduce the risk of disruption caused by sedimentation.
Head of the Padang City PUPR Agency, Malvi Hendri, said that infrastructure handling is currently being carried out in stages at a number of locations, including repairs to check dams and strengthening of river embankments.
“For check dam repairs, work has now begun at several points, such as D.I. Limau Manis, D.I. Lubuk Laweh, and D.I. Baringin. River embankment strengthening is also being carried out at D.I. Sungkai, Pasar Lalang, Lubuk Minturun, and several other affected points,” said Malvi Hendri.
He added that the implementation of the work so far is proceeding according to the schedule and targets set out in the contract, with progress in a positive condition.
Nevertheless, implementation of the work in the field still faces challenges such as access to the locations, social conditions of communities at points that intersect with residents’ economic activities, and weather factors.
“Unpredictable extreme weather conditions are also a challenge for us in completing the work on time and to the right quality according to the targets and specifications of the work. BMKG data serves as a guide and reference in implementation, because we must also ensure the safety factor of workers at every stage, in addition to the completion of the work itself,” he explained.
Malvi stressed that the Padang City Government, together with relevant ministries through the river basin agency and the West Sumatra Provincial Government, continues to work in synergy to handle disaster-affected infrastructure. “Gradually, post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure can be completed. Please be patient and we ask for your support so that this work can be completed properly according to the expected targets,” he concluded.