Gunungkidul Regent: Kelok 23 can break congestion and ease tourist access

Gunungkidul Regent Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih has announced that the physical construction of the Kelok 23 section of the Southern Cross Road (JJLS) has been completed and is projected to ease congestion and facilitate tourist access from Bantul to Gunungkidul.

“The construction target has been met, having commenced in August 2023,” said Endah in Gunungkidul on Friday.

According to her, the Kelok 23 project connects Girijati Village in Purwosari District, Gunungkidul Regency, with Kretek District in Bantul Regency, spanning approximately five kilometres across the two regencies.

“Gunungkidul Regency received 1.9 kilometres of the five-kilometre stretch,” she said.

She expressed hope that the Kelok 23 road infrastructure would help break up vehicle congestion from Bantul to Gunungkidul, particularly for tourists visiting various destinations.

“This will also make it easier for tourists, especially those heading to the South Coast, to gain easier, faster and safer access,” she said.

Endah and officials from the Gunungkidul Regency Government conducted a direct inspection of the site on Friday, while also viewing several potential lookout points for development.

“There are three locations for lookout points, two of which still belong to the Bantul Regency Government, while one lookout point and rest area is located on land owned jointly by the two regencies, Bantul and Gunungkidul,” she said.

According to her, the rest area location could later be utilised as an outlet for Gunungkidul MSME products in coordination with the Bantul Regency Government, given that the land falls under the authority of both regions.

“Inside, God willing, there will also be a rest area that can serve as outlets for MSMEs,” she said.

Endah also expressed hope that the operation of Kelok 23 would attract investor interest, thereby providing an economic impact for the region.

“We must not have assets that have no economic effect, so we will make this part of our land banking in the hope that investors will be interested in investing,” she said.

Head of the Public Works, Public Housing and Settlement Areas Agency of Gunungkidul Regency, Rakhmadian Wijayanto, said that based on a report from the National Road Implementation work unit of the Ministry of Public Works, the physical construction of the project has reached 99.6 percent completion.

“It is planned to be opened in September,” he said.