Danger Lurking for Motorists on Waduk Pluit Selatan Road as Surface Deteriorates and Subsides

Jakarta — The condition of Waduk Pluit Selatan Road in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, has suffered considerable deterioration. The road surface is noticeably subsided with striking height differences between adjacent sections, creating a serious hazard to motorists who traverse the area.

Yudi, 50, one of the motorists who regularly passes through, stated that the road has been damaged for a prolonged period and endangers road users. According to him, the risk of accidents increases during rainfall as the road surface becomes slippery and the height differences become less visible.

Syauqi, 24, a local resident, reported that incidents of motorists falling occur almost daily, particularly in the middle section of the road where the height differential is most pronounced. “Every time people pass through here, someone falls,” he said on Friday.

Due to the frequency of minor accidents, residents have even prepared a first aid kit to assist injured motorists. “When people are injured, we usually take them there for treatment,” he explained.

He added that the situation becomes even more dangerous during rainfall as the road surface becomes increasingly slippery and difficult to control. In addition, the height difference between road sections frequently causes vehicle undercarriages to scrape against the asphalt surface.

According to Syauqi, vehicles passing through the uneven sections of road almost certainly experience scraping. Evidence of vehicle abrasion is visible on the asphalt surface, and often produces loud sounds when vehicles pass. “At night I am often startled by the loud ‘crack’ sound. That’s all from vehicles scraping, the asphalt is completely damaged,” Syauqi said.