Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Public Works, in cooperation with state-run construction company Hutama Karya, is accelerating repairs on sections of the Trans-Sumatra Road that collapsed due to landslides and flooding.
Hutama Karya field executor Welliham Sinaga said in North Sumatra on Friday that the repairs are focused on the Trans-Sumatra Road connecting North Tapanuli District with Central Tapanuli District and Sibolga City.
“The repairs are focused on the Trans-Sumatra Road connecting North Tapanuli District with Central Tapanuli District and Sibolga City in North Sumatra,” Hutama Karya field executor Welliham Sinaga said here on Friday.
He said two road sections are currently under repair to restore the route, which spans tens of kilometers, to normal conditions.
The first section is the road linking North Tapanuli District and Central Tapanuli District, with a length of 36 kilometers. The second section is the Trans-Sumatra Road connecting Central Tapanuli District and Sibolga City, stretching 21 kilometers.
Initial repair work is being carried out in Dolok Nauli Village, Adiankoting sub-district, North Tapanuli District, along a 60-meter stretch located about eight hours by land from Medan. Sinaga said heavy equipment has been deployed to fill damaged road sections from above and to clear landslide debris that had buried nearby rice fields belonging to residents.
“We continue to work, and once this location is completed, we will move to another point,” he said.
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The current work represents the initial phase aimed at restoring the road structure so vehicles can pass safely. Traffic along the affected section is managed using an alternating one-way system.
Along the Trans-Sumatra Road in Adiankoting sub-district, dozens of points have collapsed, narrowing the roadway and increasing risks for motorists and nearby residents.
Dolok Nauli resident Dumaria Boru Hutagalung said the road is vital for the local community and expressed hope that the repairs would be completed soon.
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Previously, the government estimated post-flood rehabilitation and reconstruction costs in Sumatra at more than Rp50 trillion, while economists projected Rp50 trillion to Rp70 trillion for Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
The North Sumatra provincial government alone has allocated around Rp430 billion for recovery efforts.
