North Sumatra residents build temporary bridge amid delays in permanent construction

Residents of Simalungun, North Sumatra, resorted to building a makeshift bridge from logs and planks after heavy rains and landslides in November 2025 washed away the main road connecting Nagori Marubun Lokkung and Tinggi Raja. The destruction of the road severely disrupted access, making it difficult for children to attend school and hindering other daily activities.

Despite their efforts to create a temporary solution, the river's strong currents repeatedly damaged the makeshift bridge, forcing the community to rebuild it multiple times. This ongoing struggle was brought to public attention through a social media post by a resident in late June 2026.

In response to the public outcry, the Simalungun Regency government visited the site and assured residents that the permanent bridge construction is being expedited. The construction, which began in late December 2025 with a budget of approximately Rp 4 billion, was initially slated for completion within 180 days. However, the project encountered significant setbacks.

Frequent landslides, triggered by high rainfall, necessitated design adjustments and increased work volumes to ensure the bridge's safety. For instance, the retaining wall length was extended from 30 to 39 meters, and the box culvert work increased from 9 to 21 meters. Challenges in material distribution and limited workspace, as the road remained in use by the community for transporting agricultural goods, further complicated the construction process.

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However, in its implementation, the field conditions changed. High rainfall triggered several subsequent landslides around the project site, so the work could not proceed according to the initial plan.