Construction of access roads to toll ways to be restricted
Construction of access roads to toll ways to be restricted
JAKARTA (JP): The government is reluctant to approve the
construction of access roads from housing estates and industrial
zones to toll roads, a Ministry of Public Works official said
yesterday.
"It's not that easy to build roads joining up with the
existing highways," Soeharsono Martakim, the director general of
highways, said.
Plans to build access roads to highways should not only affect
traffic flows around the area abut also conform to many other
technical specifications, he said after inaugurating the
completion of an access road linking the Pantai Indah Kapuk
housing estate and the Prof. Sediyatmo toll road in Cengkareng,
West Jakarta.
"Moreover, any access road is not allowed to be built
exclusively for the occupants of the respective real estates," he
reminded.
"It should be for the benefit of all motorists."
He therefore urged developers to discuss their proposals for
constructing access roads to toll roads with the state-owned
public roads construction company and toll road operator, PT Jasa
Marga.
Soeharsono disclosed that his office had rejected several
applications from developers, who intended to connect their
projects to toll roads, particularly to the Jagorawi and Jakarta-
Cikampek tollways.
The rejections were based mostly on the proximity of the
proposed access roads to existing ones, he said, without
disclosing the minimum distance.
The construction of new access roads to city toll roads has
enabled many people to reach their destinations more quickly and
given Jasa Marga the opportunity to collect more fees.
But it has also increased congestion on toll roads due to Jasa
Marga's poor planning.
The Rp 18 billion (US$692,300), 320-meter access road
inaugurated yesterday was built by a consortium called PT Hutama-
Aji-Baraga in three months. It was funded by PT Mandara Permai,
the developer of the Pantai Indah Kapuk real estate.
The road is also expected to improve access for residents
living in Pluit, Muara Karang, Angke and surrounding areas to the
Sediyatmo toll road, which connects Soekarno-Hatta Airport and
the city. (bsr)