These 3 Types of Emergency Bridges Reconnect Affected Regions

Sumatra, VIVA – The Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) Post-Disaster Sumatra is building bridges to restore connectivity for disaster survivors that was previously severed due to floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra (Sumut), and West Sumatra (Sumbar).

Restoring connectivity through bridge infrastructure is being carried out in parallel by constructing three models of bridges, including Bailey bridges, Armco bridges, and pioneer bridges at several isolated points. The bridge construction is being undertaken collaboratively by TNI AD and Polri personnel who are part of the Satgas PRR.

A Bailey bridge is a type of lightweight steel frame bridge that is portable and prefabricated. This bridge is designed to be assembled without special heavy equipment in a short time. An Armco bridge is made from galvanised steel sheets that are corrugated to enhance structural strength. Meanwhile, a pioneer bridge is built simply with varied materials and sometimes in the form of a suspension bridge.

Based on Satgas PRR data as of 31 March, most bridges at isolated points in the three affected areas have been completed. The details are as follows: in Aceh, out of 41 planned Bailey bridge units, 39 have been completed and two others are still in the installation process.

Then, out of 82 planned Armco bridge units, 44 have been completed. Furthermore, out of 15 pioneer bridge units built, 14 have been completed.

Meanwhile, in Sumut, out of 24 planned Bailey bridge units, 12 bridges have been completed and the rest are still in the installation process. Then, out of 33 planned Armco bridge units, 18 have been completed, and out of 13 planned pioneer bridge units, 12 have been completed.

In Sumbar, all 11 planned Bailey bridge units have been fully completed. Meanwhile, out of 30 planned Armco bridge units, 13 have been completed. Then, out of 9 planned pioneer bridge units, 5 have been completed.

The Chairman of the Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) Post-Disaster Sumatra, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, stated that efforts to restore connectivity in the three disaster areas will not stop at building functional bridges and roads at the local level. As a follow-up step, Satgas PRR will soon accelerate the construction of permanent bridges and roads, so that the transportation network, community mobility, logistics distribution, and economic movement can return to full normality.