VP Gibran Inspects Post-Disaster Aceh Bridge, Emphasizes Quality and Punctuality

RRI.CO.ID, Bireuen - Indonesia's Vice President (VP) Gibran Rakabuming, inspected the construction of the Teupin Mane Bridge in Juli District, Bireuen Regency, Aceh on Thursday, August 6, 2026. This inspection is part of the government's commitment to ensuring that infrastructure recovery proceeds according to plan in the aftermath of the deadly Cyclone Senyar in late 2025, so that connectivity and community activities can be quickly restored.

On that occasion, the Vice President personally inspected the construction progress and received an explanation of the on-the-ground conditions. This inspection is part of the government's efforts to ensure that each stage of development is running optimally and meeting the public's need for safe, reliable, and usable infrastructure.

"We just want to be prepared. If the rainy season comes, we'll be swept away again, that would be sad," Gibran said, as quoted from the Indonesia's Vice Presidential Secretariat.

VP Gibran also emphasized that accelerated development must be accompanied by attention to the quality of work, as conveyed by the Head of the National Road Implementation Agency of Aceh, Zulkarnain. Furthermore, he explained that rebuilding this bridge is an important step in restoring connectivity in the region that was cut off due to the disaster.

"The Vice President's directive earlier was that we hope this will be faster and of sufficient quality," he said after accompanying the vice president during the inspection.

"This bridge was destroyed by a natural disaster, cutting off access from Bireuen to Takengon. We are currently rebuilding it," he continued.

He is optimistic that construction, which has reached approximately 45 percent completion, with the target of connecting the structure by the end of August, can be operational as targeted in October 2026, so that the public can soon return to safer transportation access.

"God willing, we can connect this bridge at the end of August, and then in October, God willing, we can have it operational," he concluded.

Gibran also appreciated the synergy between the central and regional governments, the military, the police, and all parties involved in accelerating bridge construction. According to him, this spirit of mutual cooperation is a crucial force in the recovery process, but providing safe and adequate infrastructure remains the state's responsibility.