North coast road needs repairs

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)