Alternative road to airport

TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang city administration will soon widen the four-kilometer Selapang-Karangsari street as an alternative access road to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, an official said on Friday.

"The project, estimated at Rp 10.5 billion (US$1.45 million), will be funded by the central government," said Tangerang Mayor Muhammad Thamrin, as quoted by Antara.

"Widening of the road is needed to alleviate blockage of the main access road, such as the flooding at the Sedyatmo toll road last December. Meanwhile, another main access, Jl. Daan Mogot, is prone to heavy traffic congestion," he added.

Thamrin said the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) and the State Ministry of Public Works had given their approvals to the project.

"We have also approached airport operator, PT Angkasa Pura II, to grant their land for the project without any compensation," he said, while explaining that most of the project was located on the company's land.

"The widening project will cost more if the company asks for compensation. The company has also agreed to modify the fence around the airport using its own budget," he added.

The mayor said the project wouldn't require relocation of the utility poles along the street.

"We've decided to leave the utility poles as part of the street's median to reduce costs," he said.

He expected that the project would cross isolated areas near the airport, such as the Teluk Naga district. (05)