Working Together to Safeguard Emergency Facilities
In recent days, a video has circulated on social media of tanker trucks suspected of carrying crude palm oil (CPO) breaking through a Bailey bridge on the Medan-Banda Aceh road in Kutablang, Bireuen Regency. Local Transportation Agency officers attempted to block the trucks by erecting barriers.
In videos uploaded by residents to various social media platforms, several trucks can be seen breaking through when stopped by officers. The barriers, placed in the road, were immediately rammed, dragging along the asphalt.
Despite seeing the barriers, the drivers made no attempt to stop. They continued to accelerate, ignoring the officers' warnings and the overload warnings that have been in place since the bridge's construction.
Both west and eastbound, there are signs warning of a maximum load limit of 30 tons. Furthermore, trucks are prohibited from traveling in tandem to prevent overloading, which could endanger the bridge and road users. Forgetting a single truck carrying 30 tons is enough to threaten the bridge's durability.
Bireuen Regency Transportation Agency officers should have been tasked with stopping these trucks. Unfortunately, the drivers ignored the warnings and continued driving without a trace of guilt.
All road users should be aware that the Bailey Bridge is an emergency modular steel truss bridge. It is designed to be easily assembled, easily moved, and quickly installed.
It is clear that this bridge serves as emergency infrastructure due to the flood disaster in late 2025. The bridge is only used temporarily because the permanent bridge was damaged. Temporary means it will remain in place until the permanent construction, currently underway, is completed. According to information from the Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, the permanent bridge will not be completed until July 2026. The public must patiently wait until the permanent bridge is completed.
During this wait, everyone must wisely use the Bailey Bridge within its capacity. If forced by vehicles like CPO trucks, there is a risk of damaging the bridge. Even worse, it could endanger the safety of road users.
Prior to this incident, the Kutablang Bailey Bridge had previously been damaged, making it impassable to even two-wheeled vehicles. If this incident were to happen again, how much time and money would the community have to bear?
Don't forget, the Kutablang Bridge is the lifeblood of the economy and social life of the Acehnese people. Alternative routes are available, but they take significantly longer.
For heavy cargo vehicles, such as CPO trucks and other heavy equipment, anticipation must be established from the start, when the goods are loaded. Relevant agencies or companies must carefully consider the size of the load when crossing the Kutablang Bridge.[]
