West Java infrastructure: Road repairs continued
This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Bisnis Indonesia - Infrastruktur Jawa Barat: Perbaikan jalan dilanjutkan
8 May 2023
Bandung - West Java Highways and Spatial Planning Agency (DBMPR) is continuing provincial road repairs after Eid holiday.
West Java DBMPR Maintenance and Construction Division Head Iwan Suwanagiri said, ten days after Eid, repairs were resumed to overlay provincial roads after potholes were patched.
“Regular maintenance for 354 kilometres [of roads] is set to be completed in July 2023. Currently, 130 kilometres have been worked on,” he said on Sunday (7/5).
According to him, in 2023, there are 69 road construction packages for 71 provincial road segments that include regular repairs or overlaying.
From that number, 24 packages have been completed by 100% spanning 50 kilometres, the remaining 45 packages have been worked on that includes patching potholes. The rest will be completed after Eid or in July at the latest.
Iwan also made sure that several alternative roads were also improved. Alternative roads in the province that are usually used by travellers are located in the eastern and northern sides of West Java.
“Most of the alternative routes are in the north to connect Pantura (northern coast highway), national roads towards the middle, then from the middle towards the south side. The north side connects Pantura, such as Subang, towards the south,” he said.
Iwan Suwanagiri also said that provincial roads were comfortable to be used during Eid’s homecoming flow and return traffic two weeks ago.
“DBMPMR’s quick reaction team moves swiftly when there is a report of a pothole. They will pave the road immediately,” he affirmed.
Previously, 71 road segments in West Java needed to be repaired, which is the responsibility of West Java Provincial Government. There are three classifications, namely regular maintenance, reconstruction, and road improvement.
West Java DBMPR Head Bambang Tirtoyuliono mentioned that the 71 road segments were divided into 69 construction packages. Most are included in the regular maintenance classification.
“Out of the 353,822 kilometres of road segments, most are included in the regular maintenance classification. Overlaying with hot mix [asphalt],” Bambang Tirtoyuliono said.
Bambang also mentioned that, out of the 69 road construction packages, 62 were in the regular maintenance classification. The providers were selected through an e-catalogue that was published on 19 February.
“62 packages spanning 337,342 kilometres have been contracted. Several packages commenced in the second week of March and will be completed in late July. However, to handle potholes through regular maintenance, the pothole sweeping movement will be completed approaching Eid,” he said.
The road segments that are repaired are located in almost every regency or city that are under the jurisdiction of West Java Province, so they are provincial roads.
“Almost all of them. There is one in every regency or city, such as Bogor, Sukabumi, Cianjur, Karawang, Garut, Pangandaran, and others,” Bambang mentioned.
Meanwhile, House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I Member Dave Akbarshah Fikarno is encouraging Cirebon Regency Government to focus on infrastructure construction for the people.
Some time ago, Dave admitted that condition of many infrastructures in the regency were damaged, including roads.
“I go to the east side and the west side of Cirebon to find many infrastructures in poor condition,” Dave said.
Dave mentioned that the regional budget (APBD) of Cirebon and Indramayu was quite large. However, basic services for the people are not optimum.
“Services for the people must improve so that they can be served,” Dave said.
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) logged that the total length of roads in Cirebon Regency reached 1,240 kilometres.
Based on the collected information, damaged road segments reach 137.51 kilometres, while 69.40 kilometres are severely damaged.
Meanwhile, road segments in Cirebon Regency that are in good condition reach 1,033 kilometres.
Cirebon Regent Imron Rosyadi mentioned that the effort to repair damaged road segments in Cirebon Regency was still hindered by limited budget.
This year, Imron said that Cirebon Regency Government was not allocated a state budget (APBN) to repair roads. Last year, they received up to Rp30.7 billion.
Some time ago, Imron admitted that he visited the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) to plan the repair of damaged road segments in Cirebon Regency.
“Bappenas is ready to plan an aid for Cirebon Regency to repair the roads, but in 2024,” Imron said.
Imron said that the road segment in Cirebon Regency that is badly damaged was Jalan Nyi Gede Cangkring in Plered Subdistrict.
Based on the observation of the Cirebon Regent, all of the road segment is damaged. Vehicles that travel on it must reduce their speed to prevent an accident.
“The damages are severe. When I saw it, I immediately called the PUTR (Public Works and Spatial Planning) Agency to repair the road segment as the people are complaining about it,” Imron said.
Imron ensured that the repair of Jalan Nyi Gede Cangkring could commence in May 2023. “Hopefully it can be tendered soon,” Imron said.
