Two Bridges on Main Pantura Route Under Repair, Motorists Urged to Exercise Caution

Two bridges on the main Pantura route between Pemalang and Brebes in Central Java are currently under repair due to their advanced age, prompting authorities to urge motorists to remain vigilant. The repair work has caused lane diversions, leading to lengthy traffic jams in the area. The two structures being repaired are the Maribaya A Bridge, on the Semarang-Jakarta carriageway, and the Gedih Bridge on the Pantura route in Losari, Brebes Regency, which lies on the border between Central and West Java. Jodi Pujiadi Hutomo, Head of the Pemalang-Brebes Regional 1 Implementation Unit, stated that the bridges were originally constructed in 1972 with a concrete beam superstructure. He explained that the planned service life of the bridges is nearly exhausted, a situation compounded by the prevalence of overloaded and oversized heavy vehicles using the route. Field observations showed long queues of vehicles, predominantly large trucks, building up around the bridges. Traffic is being diverted into a single lane serving both eastbound and westbound directions while the works are carried out.