Lampung Trans-Sumatra Highway Dark During Mudik Season; Provincial Government Pledges Rapid Repairs

For the past decade, darkness has been a constant companion for travellers on the Trans-Sumatra Highway (Jalinsum) in Lampung Province. Thousands of Public Street Light (LPJU) poles standing tall along this vital artery have become nothing more than dead iron monuments. Yet the Lampung Provincial Government now promises a miraculous transformation, claiming the typically pitch-black route—which appears terrifying after sunset—will become brilliantly lit within a single day.

The dark conditions on the Jalinsum artery are indeed alarming. As the primary route for motorcyclists and motorists heading towards Sumatra during the mudik (homebound) season, the absence of lighting is not merely a comfort issue but a matter of life and death. Anxiety constantly haunts travellers forced to pass through the darkness at night. Invisible potholes, road undulations, and the risk of street crime pose real threats behind the highway’s pitch darkness. Similar conditions also plague the East Cross Highway (Jalintim). Yet these Jalinsum and Jalintim routes are major thoroughfares crowded with two-wheelers and four-wheelers during every Eid mudik season.

Lampung Governor Rahmat Mirzani Djausal has responded to public concerns about the dark conditions on Jalinsum. He stated that road lighting improvements will be realised soon to support the Eid 2026 homebound rush. The effort aims to provide comfort and improve safety for travellers on the provincial artery. “The Head of Transport said he will realise this, so today (Tuesday) the lights will be repaired and lit again so travellers can be safer and more comfortable,” Mirza said optimistically to media representatives at the PT ASDP Bakauheni Branch office on the evening of Monday, 16 March.

Whilst this news brings hope to the public, questions naturally arise. How can damage to thousands of LPJU units scattered across Jalinsum—neglected for an entire decade—be completely repaired within hours or a single day? The burden of proof now rests with the government to demonstrate whether the LPJU repairs along Jalinsum truly shine brightly or remain submerged in the same darkness.

The pitch-dark conditions on the Jalinsum artery, stretching from Bakauheni to Bandar Lampung, have been a nightmare for mudik travellers using two-wheelers and four-wheelers. Approximately 95 per cent of LED (Light Emitting Diode) solar-powered street lights installed along the National Highway have failed completely. This failure of street lights on Jalinsum is not a new problem. These conditions have persisted for a full decade, beginning from the Eid mudik season in 2017 through 2026.

Although the government regularly prepares security strategies for the mudik rush, road lighting aspects on Jalinsum have slipped through the cracks despite heavy vehicle traffic. Dark conditions on Jalinsum have been frequently complained about by the public, especially as Eid approaches, due to the danger posed to road users. High risks threaten two-wheeler users in particular, and four-wheelers, especially on Tarahan Hill, known as the “Death Climb” because of frequent traffic accidents and street crimes due to poor visibility.

CNNIndonesia.com’s observation on the evening of Saturday, 14 March at approximately 22:30 WIB revealed that the street light damage is caused by defective components such as solar panels and batteries that no longer function, as well as many units that have disappeared, allegedly stolen, leaving only empty iron poles standing tall. To cope with the darkness on Jalinsum, drivers rely solely on their vehicles’ headlights and light from residents’ homes or small warungs (food stalls) along the roadside.

One of the most critical points is Tarahan Hill, known as the “Death Climb”. The minimal visibility in this area naturally increases the risk for riders. A resident of Katibung District, Saleh, said that Jalinsum conditions, particularly on the Death Climb of Tarahan, have been pitch-dark for a long time because the installed solar-powered street lights have largely deteriorated and equipment has gone missing, allegedly stolen. “For a very long time, the street lights along Tarahan Hill—approximately 19 years—have all failed completely and conditions are dark at night. Besides being broken, much equipment has disappeared,” he said to CNNIndonesia.com on Saturday evening.

Tarahan Hill, he continued, has frequently experienced traffic accidents, many of which have claimed lives. With dark road conditions, many accidents occur as riders struggle to see oil spills, potholes, and road barriers. “Besides frequent accidents, the dark conditions on Tarahan Hill are often exploited for street crime and robbery. We hope there will be attention to this situation,” Saleh said. Similarly, another resident, Juhari (57), noted that besides frequent accidents, the area is prone to street crime. This makes workers returning home late after overtime nervous when passing through. “We hope for attention. If the road were lit, vehicle users passing at night would definitely feel safe and comfortable, especially for mudik travellers,” he added.

Meanwhile, Aldi (38), a motorcyclist from Tangerang, expressed disappointment that Jalinsum conditions remain unchanged—still dark and recurring every year. “For the past five years, I’ve been taking the mudik through this road (Jalinsum) on my motorcycle, and conditions remain just as dark. During the 2025 mudik, I nearly fell off my bike”…