Sumatra Toll Road Construction Continues

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

A number of heavy equipment started work on the Palembang-Betung Toll Road, which began construction on Thursday (15/10/2020).

SEMBAWA, KOMPAS – Infrastructure development in Sumatra, which is intended to further improve interregional connectivity and support the opening of new economic centers and income distribution on the island, continues. On Thursday (15/10/2020), the construction of the 69.19-kilometer Palembang-Betung toll road in Banyuasin regency, South Sumatra officially began and is targeted to start operation in early 2022.

The director general of highways at the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, Hedy Rahadian, pressed a siren button to mark the start of the construction in Sembawa, Banyuasin, on Thursday. South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru, Banyuasin regent Askolani Jasi, Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT) heas Danang Parikesit and Waskita Karya president director Destiawan Soewardjono also attended the event.

Hedy said the toll road construction was needed to support regional development. The operation of toll roads must be followed with an increase in economic activities. "With toll roads, we must have a center for economic growth," he said.

Also read: Palembang-Kayu Agung Toll Road Opens Wednesday

Apart from South Sumatra, said Hedy, toll roads are also being built between Pekanbaru and Dumai. Thus, the highways in the northern part of South Sumatra will be connected with Dumai Port, Riau, while those in the southern part of South Sumatra will be connected with Panjang Port, Lampung.

The Palembang-Betung Toll Road is part of the 2,992-km trans-Sumatra toll road. Of the total length, the 2,069-km toll road section connecting Aceh and Lampung is the backbone of the country’s longest toll road that must be completed until 2024. According to Danang, 648 km of the toll road has been in operation, 769 km in the construction stage, and the other 1,300 km in the planning stage.

With toll roads, we must have a center for economic growth.

Danang said the existence of toll roads would become an important instrument for regional transformation. Due to its importance, he hoped the local government would also help, especially relating to financing.

After the Palembang-Betung section is completed, the construction of the 160 km-Betung-Jambi section will start. Within the next month, a concession agreement for the construction of the toll road will be signed.

Kompas

Sumatra Toll Map, 25 September 2020. Development (Pembangunan) Already In Operation (Sudah Beroperasi) Plan (Rencana)

Meanwhile, Destiawan explained that the Palembang-Betung toll road was part of the 111.69-km Kayu Agung-Palembang-Betung toll road. The 34-km Agung Kayu-Palembang section was officially opened in April 2020 while the 8.50 km Jakabaring-Kramasan section was under construction.

Because it is built on a swamp, Destiawan said, the construction of about 80 percent of the Kayu Agung-Palembang-Betung section required soil improvement using prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) and vacuum methods to speed up soil compaction.

According to him, the Palembang-Betung toll road is strategic because it connects Palembang and Jambi. When the Kayu Agung-Palembang-Betung Toll Road is completed, the travel time from Kayu Agung to Betung can be reduced significantly.

Also read: Toll Road and the Capital for the Resurrection of Aceh

"The travel time, which is now about two to three hours, will be faster at about 20 to 30 minutes," he said.

However, Waskita Karya is still experiencing financing constraints for the construction of the Palembang-Betung toll road because banks are unable to disburse the funds for the toll road construction, which cost around Rp 7 trillion due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Destiawan hopes for financial support from various parties, including local governments, so that this project can be completed on schedule.

On that road, if a vehicle has a tire burst, it can cause a traffic jam of tens of kilometers

South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru said the Palembang-Betung toll road was quite vital for the province and was expected to able to help resolve rampant congestion on Sumatra’s eastern road network , especially between Palembang and Jambi. "On that road, if a vehicle has a tire burst, it can cause a traffic jam of tens of kilometers," said Herman.

The operation of the Palembang-Bakauheni section has proven to become the key solution in coping with the traffic congestion. The toll road has reduced the travel time through the Trans Sumatra highway from the previous 12-14 hours to six to seven hours.

Regarding the financial problems experienced by PT Waskita Karya, Herman hopes local investors would be able to help the construction of this toll road. "The Kayu Agung-Palembang-Betung toll road project is a pure commercial investment with a total cost of about Rp 17 trillion. If there are financial problems, of course other investors should also help, "he said.

Banyumas Tunnel

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Vehicles pass through the General Soedirman underpass tunnel, Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java, Thursday (15/10/2020).

In Central Java, the government will build a tunnel on Jalan Veteran, West Purwokerto district, and a flyover over Kalisari road in Rawalo district, Banyumas, to facilitate traffic at railroad crossings. The construction of the tunnel and flyover which is scheduled for completion in 2023 is expected to be able to solve traffic congestions in the railroad crossings.

"The director general of railways is ready to help build the Tanjung tunnel (Jalan Veteran). Next week, the district government will submit a proposal to Jakarta, " Banyumas Regent Achmad Husein said in Purwokerto on Thursday.

Also read : New Toll Road to Generate New Economic Hubs

The funds of about Rp 73 billion for the tunnel construction, according to Husein, will be taken from the 2021. He hopes that with the construction of the infrastructure facilities, the traffic flow around the locations will run smoothly starting in 2023.

The head of the Banyumas transportation office, Agus Nur Hadie, said that the tunnel on Jalan Veteran will be built to the west and will resemble the tunnel on Jalan Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto. Meanwhile an overpass will be built in Rawalo. The two projects are currently being discussed by the Transportation Ministry and the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry.