National Road Condition in Central Java Reaches 93.47% Readiness for Eid Homecoming Traffic

The government has ensured that national roads in Central Java are prepared for travellers during the 2026 Eid holiday. Road integrity in the province has reached 93.47%.

Moch Iqbal Tamher, Head of the Central Java–Yogyakarta Regional Office for National Road Implementation (BBPJN), stated that the primary focus for work ahead of Eid is the Pantura route, as it serves as the backbone for vehicle traffic flowing from west to east across Java Island.

“We are conducting patching and repair work until ten days before Eid. The target is to ensure that before the peak homecoming period, road conditions are safe and comfortable for travel,” he said after briefing the press on preparations for the 2026 Eid route at the BBPJN Central Java–Yogyakarta office in Semarang Regency on Friday, 27 February 2026.

This focus also includes work on elevating 700 metres of the Kaligawe road segment in Semarang. The work is being carried out on both fast and slow lanes from the toll bridge junction to the entrance of the hospital in the area.

“Our realistic target is to have the 700-metre section operational by 11 March. Both the fast and slow lanes will be passable,” he said.

The Kaligawe section is known as one of the most congested segments in Semarang city. The route serves not only as the main access for long-distance vehicles between Jakarta and Surabaya, but also as a connector for local Semarang–Demak activity.

Iqbal acknowledged that his office had considered a complete closure to accelerate the road elevation work. However, after coordinating with traffic police, this option was deemed unfeasible.

“A complete closure would indeed allow us to finish faster. But the volume of vehicles there is extremely high, so a full closure is not possible,” he said.

In addition to Kaligawe, priority treatment areas include Pekalongan, Pemalang, Batang, and Kendal. Several sections in these areas sustained damage due to high rainfall intensity from January to early February.

Iqbal explained that preservation work includes patching, rigid pavement repairs, asphalt overlay, and treatment of pothole locations that could pose hazards to road users.

As of 27 February 2026, the total national roads in Central Java comprise 256 sections with a total length of 1,581.45 kilometres.

In addition to roads, Iqbal stated that the condition of national bridges in Central Java is also ensured to be ready for the homecoming traffic. A total of 852 bridge units were recorded with a combined length of 33,075.32 metres. Bridge integrity rates reached 97.41 per cent by unit count and 95.67 per cent by length.

According to Iqbal, weather conditions present the primary challenge in carrying out the work. However, he has instructed all work units and project supervisors to remain responsive to rainfall patterns.

“If it rains at night, we must be ready to work in the morning. Targets cannot be disrupted. Preparation of equipment, materials, and labour must always be ready,” he emphasised.

He added that rainfall intensity in the Pantura region has begun to decrease compared to late January and early February. With these conditions, he is optimistic that the ten-day-before target can be achieved.

“We hope that this year’s Eid can be better in serving homecoming travellers,” he said.

Previously, Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi stated that his region is prepared to welcome homecoming travellers for the 2026 Eid period. Measures to address both the outbound and return traffic flows have been prepared, including accelerated road repairs.

According to Luthfi, Central Java is a major national transit region, so infrastructure preparation cannot be done haphazardly.

Based on projections from the Ministry of Transport, an estimated 17.7 million people are expected to enter Central Java during the 2026 Eid period. Nationally, Central Java is also recorded as a favourite destination province with an estimated movement reaching 38.71 million people.

In the face of this surge, Luthfi emphasised that provincial road conditions continue to be maintained.

“We have approximately 2,200 kilometres of roads under provincial authority. Provincial road integrity reaches 94 per cent. In 2026, the focus is on maintenance,” he said.