Traffic priorities questioned<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Already frazzled by traffic congestion in the city, motorists
\nquestioned the policy of the city administration in which it was
\napparently not making it a priority to construct new flyovers or
\nunderpasses on the most congested streets of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The lack of urgency can be seen from the decision made by the
\npublic works agency to build a flyover on the less-congested Jl.
\nJend. Suprapto, Galur, Central Jakarta, while the nearby bustling
\nSenen railway crossing must wait longer before a flyover or
\nunderpass will be built.<\/p>\n
The one-lane Galur flyover was inaugurated by Governor
\nSutiyoso on March 19. The flyover, valued at Rp 21.22 billion
\n(US$2.35 million), was one among three completed at the same
\ntime. The two others are in Kalibata, South Jakarta, and in
\nPenggilingan, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The Senen railway crossing is located less then a kilometer
\nfrom the newly constructed Galur flyover.<\/p>\n
\"I am absolutely baffled on how it came about that a flyover
\nhas been constructed on Galur, while in fact the traffic in Senen
\nrailway crossing is heavily congested,\" Asdin Manalu, a cab
\ndriver told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said that traffic jams on Jl. Jend. Suprapto were very
\nrare.<\/p>\n
\"It (traffic jam) happens only when vehicles from the opposite
\ndirection cut through the traffic flowing from Senen and make
\ntheir way to Kemayoran, Central Jakarta \" he said.<\/p>\n
Asdin said that his fellow drivers complained about the
\nineffectiveness of the flyover.<\/p>\n
\"Many of my passengers also resented that the flyover was
\nconstructed in the wrong location,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, the head of the city's public works agency, IGK
\nSuena said that a flyover for Senen railway crossing would be
\nconstructed soon, pending a permit for land use from the state-
\nowned railway company, PT KAI.<\/p>\n
\"The Galur flyover was constructed first because it did not
\nnecessitate a permit from another agency,\" he told the Post late
\nlast week.<\/p>\n
He promised that the construction of a flyover in Senen would
\nkick off this year.<\/p>\n
\"The city administration has allocated initial funds worth Rp
\n10 billion for its construction,\" he said, adding that the total
\nvalue of the project would be Rp 40 billion.<\/p>\n
When asked about the possibility of heavier traffic congestion
\nduring the construction work, he said: \"We will build a temporary
\nroad by clearing the slums in the area.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/traffic-priorities-questioned-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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