W. Java govt tighter control of weigh stations<\/p>\n
Nana Rukmana, Cirebon<\/p>\n
West Java Governor Danny Setiawan has promised that his
\nadministration will closely supervise vehicles traveling along
\nthe north coast highway and immediately ensure that weighing
\nstations are operating as they should be.<\/p>\n
Personnel manning the stations must be more professional, and
\nnot corrupt in performing their duties, said Danny in Cirebon.<\/p>\n
\"We will strictly oversee heavy vehicles, especially those
\nusing the north coastal highway, which is the main artery of our
\neconomy,\" said Danny, following the collapse of the Cipunegara
\nbridge last Friday.<\/p>\n
Seven vehicles -- six of them trucks with full loads -- had
\nbeen crossing the bridge simultaneously on Friday, when it
\ncollapsed, causing them to plunge into the river. No one died in
\nthe incident.<\/p>\n
There are three state-owned weighing stations located in
\nCirebon regency and in Mundu and Losarang districts in West Java.<\/p>\n
\"Two of them cater for traffic coming from Central Java, while
\nthe one in Cikampek, Purwakarta, accommodates vehicles coming
\nfrom Jakarta,\" said the governor.<\/p>\n
He said that close supervision was vital to set professional
\nworking standards and to make the main roads in West Java safe.
\n\"We will reevaluate every weighing station in the province,
\nincluding the personnel,\" said Danny.<\/p>\n
The collection of illegal levies, whereby vehicles are allowed
\nto pass without being weighed or examined, would also be
\neradicated, he said.<\/p>\n
The governor will coordinate with regents and mayors in West
\nJava in overseeing the weighing stations.<\/p>\n
Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno
\nsaid, following the collapse of the bridge, that there were at
\nleast 25 other bridges that desperately needed to be upgraded.<\/p>\n
All of them are connected to the north coast highway, starting
\nfrom Merak in Banten to Banyuwangi in East Java.<\/p>\n
\"Rp 100 billion is needed to upgrade the bridges, which are
\n1,406 meters long in total,\" said Soenarno on Monday.<\/p>\n
Work on the bridges is projected to begin in the 2005-2006
\nbudgetary year.<\/p>\n
\"It will be done in stages, depending upon the government's
\nfinancial capabilities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soenarno said that the framework of all 25 bridges was English
\nCalendar Hamilton steel. They were designed to last for 50 years,
\nassuming that human activity did not change.<\/p>\n
\"But, that hasn't been the case. In the seventies, trucks
\ncould only haul limited loads, while it's different now. The
\nbridges' construction should be adjusted to present-day
\nconditions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Most of the 25 bridges were built between 1973 and 1974. They
\nwere designed to withstand loads ranging from 200 to 250 tons.<\/p>\n
The total load on the Cipunegara bridge at the time of its
\ncollapse was 320 tons.<\/p>\n
Repairing the Cipunegara bridge will take around 45 days and
\nfour containers of steel framework, which has been brought in
\nfrom Surabaya.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/w-java-govt-tighter-control-of-weigh-stations-1447893297",
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