Muara Angke tidal flood-mitigation dyke turns decades-old damaged road into a smooth surface

In Muara Angke’s RW 22, North Jakarta, residents have long lived with a damaged, bumpy road that was never tarmacked, littered with sand and rocks. The daily routines of residents were often hampered as they navigated this road, risking falls when walking and slips when riding motorcycles.

That situation has changed. The damaged road has been transformed into a smooth concrete route after the Jakarta Provincial Government constructed a tidal flood-mitigation dyke. The dyke is a raised road spanning 1.1 kilometres, with a width varying from five to six metres.

Now residents of Muara Angke can go about their activities without worry, as the road is smooth and comfortable for pedestrians and motorists alike.

Achmad noted that in addition to supporting residents’ activities, the dyke is also effective in reducing tidal flooding that had long inundated Muara Angke.

‘TThis dyke can function effectively with the maximum tidal flood height at elevation +2.5 metres at the Priok gauge,’ Achmad said.

He stressed that the dyke serves as an emergency or short-term measure for tidal flooding. According to Achmad, the NCICD project will be built along the river and coast of Muara Angke to give settlements a double layer of protection from tidal flooding.

One resident, Zahroni (45), said he was happy because the road in front of his house is finally smooth after decades without repair. ‘With the road now in good condition, access is more comfortable and pleasant,’ he said at the site on Thursday.

The seafood entrepreneur explained that the road in RW 22 had not been good for a long time because the area is swampy or empang. He added that in the past residents built stilt houses as the lower areas were still inundated.