Old Gombel Road Begins Total Closure Today, Traffic Diverted

JAKARTA - The Old Gombel Road in Semarang City, Central Java Province, began total closure on Monday (20/4/2026) as repair work commenced by the Ministry of Public Works (PU). During the construction period, traffic will be diverted via the New Gombel Road or Setiabudi Road. The closure is intended to support the smooth progress of construction and ensure the safety of road users. This project to handle the 1.27-kilometre stretch is estimated to last seven months. Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo explained that road and bridge connectivity is vital infrastructure that must always be in reliable condition. Head of the Central Java-Special Region of Yogyakarta Main Road Implementation Agency (BBPJN) Moch Iqbal Tamher detailed that the work includes reconstruction at two landslide-prone points as well as comprehensive repairs to the road pavement structure. According to him, the geological conditions in the Gombel area are unstable and prone to soil movement, requiring special handling. “At the landslide points, demolition will be carried out down to the base structure, then reinforced using bore piles up to 28 metres deep and mini piles on the road body,” he continued. In addition, road pavement repairs will use two layers of asphalt: AC-BC 6 cm thick and AC-WC 4 cm thick. The road width will be maintained at 10.5 metres to preserve traffic capacity. During the work, the Old Gombel Road will be fully closed due to the need for comprehensive demolition, especially in the landslide-prone areas. Iqbal stated that they have coordinated with the Semarang Police Traffic Unit and conducted outreach to the public regarding the closure. To anticipate congestion, the Traffic Unit will implement traffic engineering in the form of a priority system on the New Gombel Road, particularly for vehicles from the lower direction heading to upper Semarang. Iqbal added that the work is targeted for completion in seven months with efforts to accelerate on-site. “We will optimise the implementation so that the work can be finished faster than the target. Support from the community is greatly expected so that this project runs smoothly and provides optimal benefits for the safety and comfort of road users,” he said. The Ministry of Public Works has expressed its commitment to continuously improving the quality of national road infrastructure to support regional connectivity and the safety of road users, especially on stretches with challenging geological conditions like in Gombel, Semarang.