Minister of Public Works: Road Hole Repairs on North Coast Route Remaining at 1-2 Percent

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo stated that repairs to potholed roads on the North Coast (Pantura) route in Java are almost complete, with approximately 1 to 2 percent remaining. Dody said that these repairs are continuously being carried out to ensure the smooth flow and safety of road users, particularly on national routes with high traffic volumes. “If the potholes on Pantura are, God willing, already (almost complete), the remaining (repairs) are around 1 to 2 percent,” Dody said at the Ministry of PU in Jakarta on Friday. He explained that the road damage is largely caused by vehicles exceeding load limits or over dimension and over load (ODOL), as well as weather conditions with high rainfall. “Those passing through are mostly large ODOL vehicles that are over dimension and over load, which damage the roads,” he stated. In addition, high rainfall still occurring in several areas also accelerates the emergence of road damage such as potholes. Dody said that the national road sections are continuously monitored by field officers or road supervisors responsible for routinely checking road conditions. According to him, these officers conduct daily inspections to identify damage and expedite handling in the field. Dody added that, besides pothole repairs, the government is also paying attention to bridge conditions, particularly the expansion joints. He noted that damage to these parts can endanger road users, especially motorcyclists. Therefore, the Ministry of PU has instructed all road directorates to focus on repairing expansion joints to improve safety. Dody also stated that national road standards will soon be upgraded so that they are not only safe for four-wheeled vehicles but also for motorcycles. “In the future, I want national roads to be safe for motorcycles as well. We will raise the standards,” he said. At that time, the number of potholes, which initially reached around 7,000 points, was significantly reduced to about 2,500 points as of 2 March 2026 through accelerated handling in the field. The Ministry of PU has also prepared follow-up measures in the form of resurfacing and construction improvements on critical points to maintain road quality in the longer term.