Main Obstacle of Toll Road Constructions Outside the Java Island

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry is close to completing several construction projects in reaching its goal of 1,000-kilometer toll-road constructions by the end of Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s term.

However, the toll road constructions that were realized so far are predominantly located within the Java Island due to the complexity outside of Java Island.

The Ministry’s Bina Marga Director General Sugiyartanto said that nature is the common factor that hampers toll road or national highway developments from being held outside of Java.

“The terrain and weather can hinder you in mobilizing the equipment,” said Sugiyartanto at his office on Thursday, Feb. 21.

In addition, social situations such as security risks at the Trans Papua toll road construction can also hamper the work. The Trans Papua project was temporarily halted after the workers were terrorized by a local armed group.

“But still, we face mountainous terrains in extremely low temperatures that can freeze a vehicles engine oil and other technical difficulties,” he said.

However, Sugiyartanto said that the government has obtained several toll road projects outside of Java Island, that are ready to be operable such as the six sections of the Trans Sumatra Toll Road predicted to be fully operable this year.

YOHANES PASKALIS