New overpasses and underpasses opened

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Suryadi Soedirdja officially opened yesterday five new overpasses and two underpasses for use in the city.

The five overpasses are located on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Pramuka, and in Senen, Buaran and Kampung Melayu, while the two underpasses are in Dukuh Atas and on Jl. D.I. Panjaitan.

The Rp 86.9 billion (US$39.5 million) projects were funded by the city budget, state budget, foreign loans and funds from several private companies.

The new facilities are part of the city's efforts to meet growing public demand for the need of adequate public infrastructure, he pointed out.

Traffic problems in the city cannot be solved overnight, he said, noting that the growth in the number of cars has far outstripped the number of roads available. He added that the number of private cars is much more than the number of public transportation vehicles.

Nagging problems

"I hope the new underpasses and overpasses will help alleviate Jakarta's notorious traffic snarls, which have become one of the municipality's most nagging problems," he said.

The municipality has vowed to solve the traffic problems by the year 2001, when it has finished constructing ring roads in the southern and northern parts of the city and the Manggarai integrated terminal, as well as organizing a massive transportation system.

With the seven new facilities, the city now has 13 overpasses and underpasses.

The governor disclosed that the municipality is planning to construct another 25 overpasses and underpasses by the year 1997.

Currently, city administration is constructing two underpasses, which are located in Manggarai and Tanah Abang, as well as seven overpasses, located on Jl. K.S. Tubun, Jl. Mas Mansyur, and Jl. Pramuka II, and in Kampung Rambutan, Grogol, Cideng and Lapangan Ros.

Another three overpasses will be constructed next year, located in Pasar Pagi, Pejompongan and on Jl. Pahlawan Revolusi.(29)