Sitanggal Bridge on Brebes-Purwokerto Mudik Route Collapses Ahead of Holiday Exodus

Ahead of the mudik (homeward exodus) season, the Sitanggal Bridge on an alternative route in Brebes-Purwokerto, Central Java, has collapsed. The supporting girders of the bridge deck have buckled, forcing vehicles to travel slowly. Despite the mudik season being only days away, there are no signs of repairs at the bridge located in Sitanggal Village, Laraangan District, Brebes Regency.

This route is normally extremely busy once the holiday period approaches, particularly from H-7 onwards. Vehicles from the Greater Jakarta region, after exiting the Pejagan toll gate heading towards Ketanggungan-Jatibarang-Slawi to Purwokerto via Bumiayu, would use this route. The bridge has subsided 20 centimetres due to concrete support beams that are insufficiently strong to withstand vehicle loads. The condition of the beams is visibly bent and cracked.

As a result, vehicles on this provincial road must travel slowly. Some vehicles have even required guidance from residents to prevent their tyres from running over the collapsed area.

A local resident, Untung, 56, explained that the bridge collapse began after traffic was diverted due to road repairs on the Ketanggungan–Banyumas section. According to Untung, vehicles from Pejagan heading to Purwokerto are now being diverted via the Ketanggungan–Slawi route through Slatri, Sitanggal, and Jatibarang. Consequently, the volume of vehicles has increased sharply, including heavily laden trucks.

“Since the traffic diversion, the road from Ketanggungan to Slawi through Slatri, Sitanggal, and Jatibarang has become extremely busy. All vehicles from Pejagan heading to Purwokerto pass through here,” explained Untung on Tuesday (10 March).

To date, there are no signs of repairs from the relevant authorities. If repairs are not carried out urgently, the mudik exodus along the Ketanggungan-Jatibarang-Slawi route to Purwokerto risks being obstructed.