Public Works Ministry: Northern Coast Expressway Pothole-Free Before Eid Travel Rush

The Ministry of Public Works (PU) is targeting the Northern Coast Expressway (Pantura) in western regions to be pothole-free before the 2026 Eid travel rush. This initiative is aimed at improving the safety and comfort of travellers using this major route.

Rina Kumala Sari, Head of the Large-Scale National Road Implementation Agency (BBPJN) for Jakarta-West Java at the Directorate General of Road Construction of the Public Works Ministry, stated that road conditions had deteriorated due to extreme weather in recent weeks, particularly on the Pantura route. She revealed that the number of potholes on national roads in West Java Province stood at approximately 7,400.

“Currently, we have already addressed most of them, and thanks be to God, only 226 potholes remain. On the Pantura specifically, there are still 131 potholes,” she said at the Post Eid Travel Command Post 1.3 Kalijaga in Cirebon, West Java, on Wednesday (11 March).

The ministry is targeting all remaining potholes to be repaired before the travel rush on 13 March 2026.

“We are targeting that within the next two days there will be no more potholes,” said Rina.

However, she acknowledged the possibility of new potholes appearing, given that the region is currently in the rainy season and the Pantura route carries heavy vehicles.

The ministry has committed to consistently closing potholes quickly, within 1x24 hours, by preparing rapid-set patching material (TCM). This material has been positioned at each Command Post to accelerate responses to any detected road damage.

“Hopefully, no new potholes will appear given that we are in the rainy season, and particularly on the Pantura route with heavy traffic and rain, new potholes do emerge,” she noted.

“However, we remain committed to closing any potholes within 1x24 hours by deploying TCM material,” she added.

Through this approach, the government is aiming for zero potholes on national roads during both the outbound and return Eid travel periods.

“So we are hoping for zero potholes during the outbound and return travel periods,” she said.

To support this effort, the Public Works Ministry has established travel assistance posts at various strategic points along national routes. These posts can be used as rest stops for travellers.

“We are currently at a post, and post 1.3 is one of 23 Eid travel posts that we have prepared,” Rina concluded.