TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Public Works has said that the damaged Comal Bridge in Pemalang regency, Central Java, has been reopened today. Hedi Rahardian, a spokesman with the ministry’s Bina Marga (highway) department, said the bridge was now open to passenger vehicles, including buses, cars and motorcycles.
He added goods vehicles, excluding fuel trucks, however, were barred from crossing the bridge.
Hadi said the reopening was part of Bina Marga’s proper test of the bridge, and that it still awaited the results of evaluation as to whether the bridge could resume operations.
"[Technical] Changes of the bridge are highly dynamic. We are still evaluating. They can change later today," said Hedi. "We will, as soon as possible, review if there are new damages during this trial."
The Comal Bridge is located in Ampelgading district, Pemalang regency, Central Java. Some road sections on the bridge subsided on Friday, partially severing traffic in Java’s northern coastal highway (Pantura). Eid homecomers have been advised to take the central and southern alternative routes.
ALI HIDAYAT
