A Decade Without Change: Jalinsum Bakauheni Route Remains Pitch Dark
The pitch-black condition of the Trans-Sumatra Highway (Jalinsum) arterial route in Lampung continues to haunt travellers, particularly motorcycle users heading home for Lebaran.
Based on monitoring by CNNIndonesia.com over the past weekend, the Jalinsum route has been pitch-dark from Bakauheni to Bandarlampung City. Approximately 95 per cent of LED street lights powered by solar energy installed along this national highway have completely failed.
The failure of street lighting on this vital Jalinsum section is not a new problem. The condition has persisted for a full decade since the 2017 Lebaran exodus and continues to the present day. The dark route has been frequently complained about, especially during the Lebaran migration season, as it poses serious dangers to road users.
The risks are particularly acute for motorcyclists and cars, especially on the Tarahan uphill section known as “Death Hill” (Tanjakan Maut), which is notorious for frequent traffic accidents and street crimes due to poor visibility. Based on CNNIndonesia.com’s monitoring on Saturday (14 March) around 22:30 WIB, the street light damage is caused by faulty components including solar panels and batteries that no longer function, with many units missing, allegedly stolen, leaving only empty iron poles.
Hundreds of damaged street lights on the Jalinsum section have been left to deteriorate without repair efforts from the relevant authorities.
The “Death Hill” of Tarahan remains horrifying
The most critical point is the Tarahan uphill section, known as “Death Hill.” The poor visibility in this area inevitably increases the double risk for riders.
Saleh, a resident of Katibung District, said the Jalinsum condition at the Death Hill of Tarahan has been pitch-dark for a long time because the installed solar-powered street lights have largely deteriorated and many lighting components have gone missing, allegedly stolen.
“It’s been a long time—around ten years now that the street lights along the Tarahan uphill section have been completely dead, and it’s pitch-dark at night. Besides the damage, many equipment pieces have gone missing,” he told CNNIndonesia.com on Saturday night.
He noted that Tarahan uphill frequently experiences traffic accidents with many casualties. With the road dark, many accidents occur as drivers struggle to see oil spills, potholes, and road barriers.
“Besides frequent accidents, the darkness at Tarahan uphill is often exploited for street crimes and robbery. We hope there will be attention given to this condition,” he said.
Echoing Saleh’s concerns, another resident, Juhari (57), mentioned that besides frequent accidents, the area is prone to street crimes, causing workers returning late after overtime to feel frightened when passing through.
“Traffic accidents happen often, and the darkness due to minimal street lighting makes the Death Hill of Tarahan even more horrifying,” he said. “We hope there will be attention. If the road were well-lit, vehicle users passing at night would surely feel safe and comfortable, especially for those heading home for Lebaran,” he added.
Disappointment among travellers
Aldi (38), a motorcyclist from Tangerang heading home for Lebaran, expressed disappointment that the Jalinsum route has not improved—it remains pitch-dark and the problem repeats every year.
“For the past five years, I’ve been heading home via this road (Jalinsum) on my motorcycle, and the condition remains just as dark. During the 2025 Lebaran exodus, I nearly fell from my motorcycle because of a road pothole I couldn’t see due to the darkness,” said the man heading to Lampung, speaking during a rest stop at a small food stall.
According to him, the darkness extends from after Bakauheni Market until he rests in Rangai Village, Katibung District, South Lampung. It is likely the dark condition continues all the way to Bandarlampung City and beyond to his home village.
“It’s certainly uncomfortable when the road you’re travelling on is dark. This should surely be a government priority for the safety and comfort of those heading home,” he said.
To cope with the darkness on the Jalinsum arterial route, riders currently rely only on their vehicle’s headlights and the faint light from houses or small food stalls along the Jalinsum.
The situation is worsened by inadequate road infrastructure. Although several pothole sections have been patched, the work appears haphazard. Many sections of road are uneven, which is technically as dangerous as potholes for motorcycle balance.