West Jakarta Bridge Delayed After Heavy Equipment Vandalised

Construction of a bridge on Jalan Warung Pojok RT 05 RW 02 has been hampered after equipment used for the project was stolen. Residents then took the initiative to build a bamboo bridge as temporary access. The community-funded bamboo bridge went viral on social media. The bridge was built by residents themselves after the concrete bridge was demolished in 2024.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has assured that construction of a concrete bridge at the site will continue. He said the bridge was demolished by the Jakarta Water Resources Agency (Dinas SDA) because of dredging work at the location. “The wooden bridge in Tegal Alur was demolished by the Water Resources Agency. Why was it demolished? Because there was equipment there that needed to carry out dredging,” Pramono said in Pancoran, South Jakarta, on Friday (28/8/2026).

Pramono revealed that the Semongol Bridge construction stalled because the equipment used for the work was vandalised and stolen. The stolen items were spare parts, rendering the equipment inoperable. “Sadly, the equipment was vandalised and stolen, with spare parts taken so that it could not operate,” he said.

Pramono said he has asked the Water Resources Agency to continue the work. Once the water resources work is complete, the bridge will be rebuilt. “I have asked the Water Resources Agency to continue. Once the water resources work is finished, the wooden bridge will be completed as a concrete bridge,” he said. Pramono noted that the current wooden bridge is potentially dangerous, which is why it will eventually be made permanent using concrete.

Meanwhile, West Jakarta Water Resources Agency Head Mustajab revealed the missing components, including spare parts. “Some components were stolen. The battery is also missing. Then the spare part component, which is like the brain of the machine,” Mustajab said, as reported by Antara on Friday (28/8/2026). He said replacement spare parts are currently being ordered. His office has also coordinated with the equipment unit so that repairs can be carried out as quickly as possible. Once finished being used for work on Kali Semongol, the equipment is planned to be moved to support other activities.

For the time being, the agency will build a temporary bridge at the location. Mustajab said construction of the temporary bridge will be carried out in collaboration with PT Adhi Karya. “We will repair it, but it will remain temporary, though more proper, so that residents using it to cross do not have to worry,” Mustajab said. According to him, construction of the temporary bridge is being carried out while waiting for the normalisation of Kali Semongol to be completed. Currently, the Water Resources Agency is increasing the capacity of Kali Semongol by installing precast sheet pile retaining walls.

After the normalisation of Kali Semongol is complete, a permanent bridge will be built to replace the temporary one. “Once the normalisation of Kali Semongol is finished, a permanent bridge will be installed at that point,” Mustajab said. Construction of the permanent bridge is already included in the Water Resources Agency’s contract. Plans call for four bridge points to be built permanently. The normalisation work on Kali Semongol is targeted for completion by the end of 2026. The work includes dredging and installation of embankments or sheet piles on both sides of the river.

Residents had complained about the stalled bridge construction. The structure, commonly referred to by residents as Jembatan Semongol, is used daily as access to the market and school. One resident, Ana Haryanti, said the bridge was previously in good condition. However, it was later demolished by officials on the grounds that it would be repaired. “They promised it would be fixed, but it has been almost three years and it still hasn’t been fixed,” Ana said at the location on Monday (24/8).