North Coast Route Upgraded Annually, Public Works Minister Explains
Jakarta — The Government is accelerating maintenance work on several national road sections ahead of the 2026 Lebaran exodus, particularly along the North Coast (Pantura) corridor in Java, which becomes one of the busiest routes during each holiday season migration.
Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo stated that the Government has issued Public Works Ministry Instruction Number 1 of 2026 as a guideline for all work units to monitor infrastructure readiness during the exodus and return travel periods.
“To ensure the readiness of public works infrastructure ahead of this year’s Lebaran exodus, the Public Works Ministry has issued Public Works Ministry Instruction Number 1 of 2026. This instruction serves as a guideline for all organisational units so that infrastructure readiness monitoring can be carried out intensively during the period before and after the exodus,” Hanggodo said during a working meeting with Commission V of the House of Representatives on 11 March 2026.
Maintenance efforts are focused on strategic routes that serve as the primary centres of public mobility. One of the routes receiving particular attention is the Pantura route stretching from West Java to East Java.
“However, approaching the Lebaran exodus, attention is not directed at the average condition of the road network; what is more critical is the condition of road sections that serve as primary routes for public mobility,” Hanggodo said.
In the West Java Pantura region, the Government is removing old asphalt layers and applying new surfacing at several points. Total maintenance coverage in this area reaches approximately 13.2 kilometres.
“Maintenance work in the North Coast (Pantura) region of Java, implemented through a Multi-Year Contract running from 2025 to 2027, includes asphalt removal, resurfacing, and road preservation spanning approximately 13.2 kilometres in West Java,” he explained.
Meanwhile, in the Central Java Pantura, repair work is more extensive, encompassing concrete pavement and asphalt overlays on several major sections serving as logistics distribution and holiday migration routes.
“Maintenance of the Central Java Pantura route includes concrete pavement and asphalt removal and resurfacing spanning 40.5 kilometres,” Hanggodo said.
On the other hand, improvements to the East Java Pantura include various road maintenance works such as pothole patching and rehabilitation of roads damaged by weather and heavy traffic intensity.
“Maintenance work on the East Java Pantura route includes grass cutting, pothole patching, and major road rehabilitation spanning 40.73 kilometres,” he said.
The Government is also anticipating damage that may emerge during the exodus period. The Public Works Ministry remains prepared to conduct emergency repairs if new potholes appear due to extreme weather or heavy traffic loads.
“If new damage emerges during the exodus period due to weather conditions, potching work will still be carried out quickly in the field when traffic conditions ease somewhat,” Hanggodo said.
Beyond physical work, the Public Works Ministry is also deploying emergency posts and rapid response teams at various strategic points to respond to potential infrastructure disruptions during the exodus period.
“Therefore, road preservation work continues to be conducted to ensure that public mobility during the Lebaran exodus runs smoothly,” Hanggodo concluded.