New Toll Road to Begin Operations in Early 2027, Making Balikpapan to IKN Feel Within Reach
Access to the Nusantara Capital (IKN) is becoming increasingly shorter. This is due to the progress of the construction of the IKN Toll Road Section 3A-2, undertaken by PT Hutama Karya (Persero) (Hutama Karya), which has reached the functional stage.
This infrastructure is a vital component in accelerating connectivity to the core government area. Construction of this section began on 21 December 2023 and reached functional status during the Christmas and New Year 2025/2026 period, opened on 20 December 2025 after 730 days of implementation. This functional status allows the toll section to be used on a limited basis to support smooth traffic during specific periods, although construction work is still ongoing. Subsequently, this section will be functional again for the Idul Fitri 2026 traffic flow starting from 13 March 2026 or after 813 days of work.
Overall, the project completion is targeted for 31 December 2026 and will be fully operational from January 2027 after undergoing comprehensive feasibility testing by the relevant authorities.
The IKN Toll Road Section 3A-2 is part of the National Strategic Project that connects the Balikpapan-Samarinda Toll Road with the IKN area and Penajam Paser Utara. With a travel distance of about 70 km, this section will accelerate the journey time from Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman International Airport to IKN to approximately 60 minutes or up to 90 minutes more efficient than before.
The scope of work includes the construction of 2.34 km of at-grade road, 1.745 km of elevated pile slab structure, bridges, as well as the Karangjoang Interchange and toll exit. The road is designed with two lanes and a width of 11.25 metres using a combination of at-grade and slab-on-pile structures adapted to the soil conditions in East Kalimantan.
To date, several follow-up works are still ongoing, including the completion of ramp works, slab-on-pile structures, erection of steel box girders at certain points, road pavement, as well as slope protection and beautification works in several segments.
This project is carried out through collaboration among several state-owned enterprises under the Integrated Joint Operation scheme, namely PT Hutama Karya (Persero), PT Adhi Karya (Persero) Tbk., PT Nindya Karya, and PT Brantas Abipraya (Persero).
During construction, the main challenges included unstable soil conditions (clay shale) that are prone to shifting, as well as high rainfall that impacts slope stability and work productivity. This is anticipated through the application of construction technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), drone photogrammetry, as well as digital-based project management systems. The implementation of these methods not only addresses geographical challenges but also enhances safety aspects, work quality, and execution time efficiency compared to conventional land-based methods.
This project involves 527 workers, with about 15% being local workers from East Kalimantan. Hutama Karya also promotes competency enhancement through technical training and professional certification, and with ongoing progress, Hutama Karya is optimistic that the IKN Toll Road Section 3A-2 will strengthen connectivity in the Balikpapan, Samarinda, and surrounding areas to support regional economic growth.
“The functionality of this section demonstrates Hutama Karya’s readiness in executing strategic projects with high complexity, both in terms of technical aspects and geographical conditions, as well as supporting the acceleration of connectivity to IKN,” said Acting Executive Vice President (EVP) Corporate Secretary of Hutama Karya, Hamdani, in a written statement on Wednesday (6/5/2026).