Central Java road project blamed for traffic accidents<\/p>\n
Bambang Tiong, The Jakarta Post, Klaten<\/p>\n
KLATEN, Central Java (JP): Many have blamed slow completion of
\na road improvement project along the 17-kilometer Prambanan-
\nTegalgondo road for the increased number of traffic accidents
\nthere.<\/p>\n
A total of 37 people were killed and 369 others injured in 264
\ntraffic accidents along the highway from March 2000 to September
\n2001, according to data from the traffic unit at Klaten police
\nstation.<\/p>\n
Of the non-fatal cases, 177 were seriously injured.<\/p>\n
The figure has increased from around 20 fatalities and 140
\ninjured in 200 traffic accidents from September 1998 to March
\n2000.<\/p>\n
The project is part of ongoing repair work to the Yogyakarta-
\nSurakarta highway, which is being carried out by state-owned
\nconstruction company PT Bina Marga.<\/p>\n
Teddy Hamdany, a local executive of PT Bina Marga, rejected
\nthe sharp criticism, saying that the accidents had nothing to do
\nwith the ongoing project.<\/p>\n
\"It's not true. We've had many weaknesses (in carrying out the
\nproject) but they are not that extreme,\" he said here recently.<\/p>\n
Teddy was referring to the extended timetable for the Rp 49.2
\nbillion project, originally slated to be completed last month.<\/p>\n
\"In fact, as of September 2001, only 65 percent of the project
\nwas complete. That's why the project has been rescheduled and it
\nis expected to finish next April,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Teddy conceded that many factors had forced PT Bina Marga to
\nextend the project to April 2002. He cited that traffic
\ncongestion along the highway was the main factor hindering PT
\nBina Marga in completing the project. \"Besides, PT Bina Marga
\nalso had to redesign numerous bridges and appropriate 20,000
\nsquare meters of land for the road and bridge enhancement
\nproject, and all this took a considerable time,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Consequently, he said, a bumpy road surface, potholes here and
\nthere, and piles of road construction material have been common
\nalong the highway for the last 18 months.<\/p>\n
He denied that traffic jams, slow-moving traffic and one-way
\ntraffic along many parts of the highway had caused the high
\nnumber of traffic accidents since the project had started.<\/p>\n
Teddy insisted that most accidents occurred mainly due to
\nother factors, such as reckless driving and heavy traffic.<\/p>\n
The local highway transportation and traffic office (DLLAJR)
\nwas also of the opinion that the increased number of traffic
\naccidents had nothing to do with the project.<\/p>\n
In 1998, for example, the office noted, only around 33,000
\nvehicles used the road per day. \"Later, the number rose to 39,900
\nin 2000 and around 43,890 this year,\" said a DLLAJR employee, who
\nasked to remain anonymous.<\/p>\n
\"What I suggest is that the increased number of vehicles has
\ncaused the increase in traffic accidents along the highway,\"
\nTeddy said.<\/p>\n
Chief of the traffic unit of Klaten Police First Insp. Rakhmat
\nHakim contended, however, that the increased number of traffic
\naccidents had a lot to do with the project.<\/p>\n
\"While it's true that motorists have not directly hit piles of
\nconstruction materials on the road, they have nonetheless been
\ninvolved in accidents caused by dangerous driving due to the
\nabsence of adequate warning signs along those parts of the road
\nunder repair,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Both Teddy and Rahmat, however, agreed that something had to
\nbe done to reduce the number of traffic accidents along the road.
\nOtherwise, more accidents would occur in the very near future,
\nespecially before and after Idul Fitri and Christmas.<\/p>\n
Millions of motorists are expected to use the Yogyakarta-
\nSurakarta highway to travel to other cities and villages in the
\nprovince and toward East Java.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/central-java-road-project-blamed-for-traffic-accidents-1447893297",
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