Toll Operators Speed Up Road Repair Works
The government and toll road operators are working hard to improve road conditions and traffic safety for the upcoming Idul Fitri exodus. Renovation works on roads and the installation of additional facilities such as toilets in rest areas are currently underway.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The government and toll road operators are accelerating the works for the improvement of road infrastructure and supporting facilities along routes designated for homebound travelers for the Idul Fitri holiday season.
Not only are potholes being repaired and sections of the toll and non-toll roads resurfaced, but additional toilets in several rest areas will be provided.
The repair works, which are also carried out on non-toll roads such as Java’s northern coast highway Pantura, should be completed immediately and be ready 10 days before Idul Fitri, which will fall on June 5 and 6.
Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said in Jakarta on Friday that repair works, which are still ongoing at a number of road sections, aimed to ensure comfortable and safe travels.
The integration of the 965-kilometer toll roads from Merak in Banten to Probolinggo is expected to encourage more travelers to use their personal cars to reach their hometowns. Nevertheless, Basuki ensured that non-toll roads would also be prepared for homebound travelers.
In addition to the toll roads, the 1,341-km Pantura highway along the northern coast of Java will also be a main route for the travelers, especially those riding motorcycles. Traffic density in the Pantura highway is expected to reach 0.85. If the density exceeds 1, it indicates a heavy traffic jam.
Repairs are also carried out on highways (national roads) in Sumatra. The highways which are heavily damaged and are currently being repaired are those linking Palembang and Jambi, especially in Banyuasin and Ogan Komering Ilir.
In the Cikampek-Palimanan toll road (Cipali), a number of damaged areas are also being repaired, such sections in Kilometer 118-119, KM 126-129, KM 140 and KM 155.
PT Lintas Marga Sedaya (LMS) general manager of operations Suyitno Sari said the works were being carried out to resurface some sections of the roads and cover potholes, as well as to renovate existing toilets and plant trees in rest areas. The toll road operator will also provide portable toilets in some sections of the toll roads.
The improvements are based on the results of an evaluation made during Idul Fitri last year.
“We’ve added more toilets for women because travelers lining up for toilets were mostly women,” Suyitno said.
One-way flow
As part of the plan to implement a one-way system on the trans-Java toll road during the peak of the annual exodus, traffic in some areas will be redirected.
The Transportation Ministry and the National Police will implement a one-way system on May 30 until June 2. The one-way system will be implemented on the toll road section between KM 29 at the Cikarang Utama toll gate (GT) and KM 262 at the Brebes toll gate. That way, lanes A, B, until the resting area on the left and right sides of the road are used for vehicles heading or from Jakarta to Central Java and East Java.
That redirection will consequently result in an increase in traffic on the Pantura highway.
"The traffic through Pantura highway will increase. However, we have prepared other traffic redirections," said Cirebon Police traffic chief Adj. Com. Tony Gusmanto.
The Pantura highway is predicted to be passed by more than 237,000 vehicles per day before the peak of the exodus. The first vulnerable location of congestion is the Kalijaga Bunderan, which is the meeting point of vehicles from Central Java and the city of Cirebon.
If there is congestion on the Pantura highway heading to Jakarta, vehicles will be diverted to the Karangampel route in Indramayu. Motorists are expected to be vigilant because the alternative routes in Gunung Jati-Kapetakan lack proper lighting.
The next critical road section is at the Kanggraksan intersection, which is a meeting point of vehicles from the direction of Kuningan and Ciamis to Cirebon City. The line will be closed, and vehicles will be diverted through Jl. Brigjen Dharsono and Katiasa.
Regarding traffic during the Idul Fitri holiday season, the head of the Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT) Danang Parikesit appealed toll road operators to provide a discount on toll fees. It is the toll operators who have the right to provide a discount, not the government.
In response, the director for operations of state-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk Subakti Syukur said the possibility of providing the discount was still being discussed with fellow toll road operators grouped in the Association of the Indonesian Toll Road Operators (ATI). Jasa Marga is offering a 10 percent discount during peak days of the exodus, he said. (MEL/IKI/RAM/VIO/NAD/ARN/XTI)