Residents Protest Damaged Road, Semarang Regency Government Admits Budget Constraints
The Government of Semarang Regency has apologised to the public for the damaged condition of Jalan Wringinputih in Bergas District, which triggered protests from residents who piled large stones and planted banana trees in the middle of the road. The regency administration acknowledged that budget limitations are the main constraint in handling the road damage.
Observations on Sunday showed the pile of stones and banana trees remained on the section of Jalan Wringinputih, which has suffered severe damage due to the high intensity of vehicles transporting quarried material that pass through daily. The action was taken by residents as an expression of disappointment because the damaged road had not yet been thoroughly repaired. The road conditions, muddy during the rainy season and dusty in the dry season, are considered to disrupt community activities while increasing the risk of accidents.
Wringinputih Village Head Untung Pambudi said the road damage not only hampers residents’ mobility but also impacts public health. “Not only does it disrupt the comfort and safety of residents, this damaged road also affects health because the dust flying when large vehicles pass causes shortness of breath and sore eyes,” said Untung.
Acting Head of the Public Works Department of Semarang Regency, Danang Eko Wahyuono, acknowledged that the condition of Jalan Wringinputih is indeed not yet what the community expected. According to him, there remains approximately 500 metres of road that is damaged and requires further handling. “We apologise to the entire community that the current condition cannot yet meet expectations,” said Danang.
He explained that budget limitations are one of the obstacles in maintaining all regency roads, which span a total length of 1,227 kilometres. Nonetheless, the local government continues to pay special attention to the Jalan Wringinputih section, which is part of the Karangjati–Ngombo route. Danang mentioned that in 2025, the Semarang Regency Government allocated a budget of around Rp600 million for the road repairs. Additionally, the repairs received support from corporate social responsibility funds from PT Mahidara Artha Sangkara amounting to approximately Rp1 billion.
Through this funding, the government managed to repair around 500 metres of the road. However, approximately 500 metres of the section remain untouched by the repairs. “This year we are undertaking routine maintenance. Although not perfect, at least the comfort level for road users can be slightly improved. This is our homework,” said Danang.
As a follow-up measure, the Semarang Regency Government has planned a budget allocation of around Rp900 million in 2027 to continue repairs on the Jalan Wringinputih section. The government hopes this budget will meet the comprehensive repair needs so that public access can be safe and comfortable once again. Previously, residents staged a protest by piling up large stones and planting banana trees in the middle of the road as a symbol of their frustration over the slow handling of the damage, which has persisted for quite some time and has been exacerbated by heavy vehicle traffic from quarrying activities.