North coast road needs repairs

SEMARANG: With the Idul Fitri and Christmas holiday season just around the corner, officials here warned that some 40 percent of the 433 kilometers north coast Java artery was in poor condition.

The road is a key transportation route in a season which traditionally sees millions of people leaving Jakarta to return to their hometowns.

"These damaged roads need to be repaired soon. If not, there will be serious traffic congestion on the northern coastal route, especially during the seasonal exodus," said Sugito of the Central Java Public Works office.

As well as being one of the main commuter routes across Java, it is also a transportation lifeline connecting the three provinces of East, West and Central Java, as well as Bali and Sumatra.

"The roads were damaged due to the heavy traffic load. Some 55,000 vehicles pass along this route every day," Sugito said.

The administration has allocated Rp 282 billion to fix and maintain the road this year. However, it is not clear when the repair work will begin. (har/edt)