Ministry Rehabilitates Flood-damaged Bridges in N. Sulawesi, Maluku

Rehabilitation of Wai Kaka Bridge in Tala Village, Amalatu Subdistrict, West Seram Regency. (Photo by: Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing)

The Government through Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing continues to support post-disaster management of flood that hit several regions such as North Sulawesi Province and Seram Island, Maluku.

Flood that was caused by heavy rain hit North Sulawesi on 25 July 2020 and damaged several bridges. Meanwhile in Seram Island, rainfall intensity that significantly increased in 7-20 June 2020 is transformed into river streamflow which caused bridge collapse and damage.

Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono instructed all Ministry’s offices at regions to always vigilant against unpredictable disasters that might happen any time. Moreover during COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry must preserve the function of roads and bridges to ensure the logistics mobilization.

The Ministry through Manado National Road Implementation Center (BPJN) carries on rehabilitation of bridges in North Sulawesi, among others, Kosio Bridge located in Bolaang Mongondow Regency which was collapsed due to flash flooding, and Sinandaka Brigde in South Bolaang Mongondow Regency which pier was tilted.

Head of Manado BPJN Agung Hari Prabowo said that the office is constructing emergency bridges in the two locations for the smoothness of transportation and logistics distributions.

“We hope the construction of emergency bridges can be completed and used immediately. In addition, we have allocated Rp2 billion of budget for the mitigation of floods and landslides in the area,” Agung said.

In Maluku, the Ministry is working on the rehabilitation of Wai Kaka Bridge in Tala Village, Amalatu Sub-district, West Seram Regency. Wai Kaka Bridge was tilted and emergency bridge was damaged due to harsh streamflow during heavy rain that hit Seram Island.

The Ministry will demolish Wai Kakak Bridge and build new steel bridge spanning 80 meters. In addition, 30-meter-length emergency bridge will also be built. The bridges’ deck will be at higher level so the flood cannot reach it. The emergency bridge is expected to smoothen people’s mobilization while waiting for the completion of Wai Kaka Bridge.

“Construction of Wai Kaka Bridge is expected to complete this year. Considering the urgency of the bridge that must be completed in short time, the bridge uses truss steel design that allows the completion at shorter time,” Head of Maluku BPJN Jon Damanik said.

The construction work included in the program to preserve roads connecting Piru, Kairatu, Waiselan, Liang in West Seram Regency. The program that has a total budget of Rp26.5 billion is developed by PT Daya Cipta Utama Pusaka as the developers and PT Rosari Consultant as project monitoring consultant.

For the record, Wai Kaka Bridge is one of the most important transportation infrastructures in Seram Island that connects three regencies such as West Seram Regency, Central Maluku Regency, and East Seram Regency. (Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing/EN)

Translated by : Rany Anjany
Reviewed by: Yuyu Mulyani