Series of Facts Regarding Damage to Street Lights and Ornamental Tower at Kabanaran Bridge

Damage has been discovered on the ornament at Kabanaran Bridge, which connects Bantul Regency and Kulon Progo Regency. The damage is visible on the mountain-shaped ornament that serves as the iconic symbol of the bridge. Below are the details of the damage that has occurred.

Street Lights Broken and Ornament Damaged

At least five public street lights (PJU) installed at Kabanaran Bridge are broken. During a monitoring visit on Monday, 9 March 2026, one PJU on the southern side of Kabanaran Bridge was seen to be broken. Subsequently, one PJU on the northern side of the bridge also appeared to be broken.

On the western side of the mountain-shaped ornament, two additional PJUs on the northern side of the bridge appeared to be broken. The same situation was also visible on the western side of the ornament, where one more PJU was broken.

Not only that, a portion of the mountain-shaped ornament on the southern side of Kabanaran Bridge, specifically the iron attachment, appeared to be nearly detached. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the mountain-shaped ornament, one section of iron could be seen tied with plastic rope to prevent it from coming loose.

Several officials wearing green uniforms could also be seen standing by at Kabanaran Bridge. They appeared to be carrying out maintenance work on the bridge located at the border between Bantul and Kulon Progo regencies.

A cilok street vendor named Yayak, aged 50, who was sheltering beneath the mountain-shaped ornament, stated that the street lights broke and the iron on the mountain-shaped ornament peeled off on Wednesday, 4 March, at around 14:00 West Indonesian Time. He mentioned that there was heavy rain accompanied by strong winds at that time.

“The lights broke on Wednesday afternoon, how do I know? Because I was taking shelter from the rain and saw the light pole break,” Yayak said to detikJogja in Srandakan, Bantul, that afternoon.

Suspected Cause: Windstorm

Yayak stated that the light poles were suspected to have broken because they could not withstand the strong winds. Fortunately, the broken poles did not fall onto the road.

“But the poles didn’t fall onto the road because the wind was blowing towards the north at that time. As for the cause, I think it was because of the welds and the top part was heavy, and it eventually broke when struck by the strong wind,” he said.

Regarding the iron portion of the mountain-shaped ornament that peeled off, Yayak stated this also occurred on Wednesday, 4 March. However, he admitted he did not directly witness this incident.

“The ornament also happened when the strong wind came on Wednesday. So while I was taking shelter from the heavy rain and remained wet, I moved to the eastern side, and when I returned, it was already like that (with the iron on the mountain ornament detached),” he said.

Yayak also admitted to having repaired one of the detached iron pieces on the mountain-shaped ornament himself. According to him, this was to ensure the iron would not be lost.

“There’s one here that I tied at the bottom so it won’t come loose,” he said.

Yayak stated that several officials had already come to inspect the damage. However, the broken PJU poles have not yet been repaired.

“Some have come here, but they only carried out welding work on the light poles. As for the broken ones, they haven’t been reconnected yet, perhaps they’re doing the repairs in stages,” he said.

Follow-up Action by Relevant Parties

The damage at Kabanaran Bridge was confirmed by the Subdistrict Head (Panewu) of Srandakan.

“Yes, that’s correct (there are broken PJU poles), and there is also damage to the mountain-shaped ornament in yellow,” said Srandakan Subdistrict Head Karjiyem to detikJogja on Monday, 9 March.

Karjiyem stated that the bridge damage has already been followed up by the Bantul Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (DPUPKP). In fact, DPUPKP Bantul has reported the incident to relevant parties.

“It has been followed up by the Bantul Public Works Department for reporting to the National Road Authority. Since it is still under maintenance and that falls within the central government’s jurisdiction,” he said.

Part of National Strategic Programme

Meanwhile, the Head of Bantul DPUPKP, Jimmy Alran Menumpak Simbolon, stated that repairs to the PJU and mountain-shaped ornament at Kabanaran Bridge are not within his authority. This is because Kabanaran Bridge is part of the National Strategic Programme (PSN).

“I beg your pardon, that is the authority of the National Road Authority,” Jimmy said to detikJogja.

Despite this, Jimmy acknowledged that he had reported the incident to the National Road Authority. According to him, the National Road Authority will carry out repairs to the damage.

“It has been reported (to the National Road Authority),” he said.

For information, Kabanaran Bridge, which connects Bantul and Kulon Progo regencies via the southern cross-route highway in Poncosari, Srandakan, Bantul, was inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto. Prabowo noted that the location of the bridge is laden with historical significance.

“First and foremost, of course we are always grateful and we continuously express our gratitude to Almighty God. So that today we can gather for the inauguration of Kabanaran Bridge in the Special Region of Yogyakarta,” said Prabowo in his remarks at Kabanaran Bridge, Bantul, on Wednesday, 19 November 2025.