Ministry of Public Works Restores Aceh Connectivity, Bridge Returns Functional

The Ministry of Public Works (PU) continues to accelerate emergency management measures following the flash flood and landslide disaster in Aceh Province. The main focus currently is to restore access to seven broken bridges on the vital section of Boundary Bireuen/Bener Meriah – Boundary Bener Meriah/Central Aceh – Takengon City.

To date, five of the seven bridges have returned to functionality, namely the Alue Kulus Bridge, Krueng Rongka Bridge and Weihni Lampahan Bridge. Meanwhile, two other bridges, namely the Weihni Enang-Enang Bridge and the Mushroom Ujung Bridge, are in the process of emergency handling using the Bailey Bridge.

Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, emphasized that restoring road and bridge connectivity is the government’s main priority in emergency response situations to ensure smooth distribution of logistics and citizen activities.

“Connectivity is the lifeblood of society. In disaster conditions, the most important thing is to ensure access remains open so that citizen mobility, humanitarian aid and logistics distribution do not stop,” said Minister Dody.

Progress in Handling Central Crossing (Bireuen – Takengon)
On this central cross route, access to the Bireuen – Takengon boundary is functionally accessible via an alternative road. Especially for the Mushroom Ujung Bridge, the construction of the Bailey Bridge is currently entering the loading test stage before being fully opened to the public.

Apart from that, the Bireuen City Road – Bireuen/Bener Meriah Border Road has also been reconnected since December 18 2025. This was achieved after the installation of the Bailey Bridge in Teupin Mane and temporary handling at the landslide point was completed.

Intensive handling is also being carried out on the Geumpang – Pameue ​​– Genting Gate – Simpang Uning section. The Geumpang to Genting Gate segment is now passable by vehicles.

For the Genting Gate – Simpang Uning segment, traffic was temporarily diverted to an alternative route via Angkup to avoid the heavily damaged Titi Merah Bridge and Krueng Pelang Bridge. Installation of the Bailey Bridge in Krueng Pelang continues to be accelerated and is targeted to be functional on January 16 2026.

In other locations, the Ministry of Public Works recorded a number of significant access restorations:

· Meureudu section – Pidie Jaya/Bireuen boundary: Total functional access for all vehicles from 12 December 2025 after the bridge filling is complete.

· Bireuen City – North Aceh Border section: Connectivity restored using the Krueng Tingkem Bailey Bridge (30 ton capacity) from 27 December 2025, as well as the alternative route to the Awe Geutah Bailey Bridge which has been functional since 19 December 2025.

Connectivity of the Gayo and Southeast Aceh Regions
The Ministry of Public Works also ensures that connectivity in the Gayo mountain area to the south of Aceh continues to be maintained. On the Central Aceh/Nagan Raya – Lhok Seumot – Jeuram border section, two- and four-wheeled vehicles will be able to pass via the Krueng Beutong Bailey Bridge starting January 9 2026.

The route connecting the Gayo Lues/Southeast Aceh Border – Kutacane City has also been reconnected. This follows the handling of nine landslide points and the installation of functional Bailey Bridges in Lawe Mengkudu I and Lawe Penanggalan since December 29 2025.

Even though there was a subsequent landslide on January 3 2026 on the Blangkejeren – Boundary Gayo Lues section, the team in the field succeeded in dealing with this obstacle so that the route was open again on January 9 2026. Now, the Genting Gate – Celala section to the Southeast Aceh border is functional again.

The Ministry of Public Works is committed to continuing to strengthen handling in the field, both through providing emergency bridges and preparing permanent construction, so that recovery of disaster-affected areas in Aceh can be sustainable.

This work program is part of “A Year of Working, Moving – Having an Impact” in implementing President Prabowo Subianto’s ASTA CITA.

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About the Communications Bureau of the Ministry of Public Works

The Ministry of Public Works (PU) is a state ministry in the Red and White Cabinet in the Government of the Republic of Indonesia. This ministry is in charge of public works affairs, namely: tasked with and responsible for the development and management of infrastructure in Indonesia, including roads, bridges, water management. The Ministry of Public Works is responsible to the President. Since October 21 2024, the ministry will be led by Dody Hanggodo.