Roads frequently damaged and congested, residents call for a flyover at Serpong railway level crossing
South Tangerang, Kompas.com — Residents have proposed constructing a flyover at the railway crossing in the Serpong area of South Tangerang City, due to the road condition being frequently damaged and often causing congestion.
Road damage at the crossing area is considered to recur despite several repairs. Residents hope for a permanent solution so that drivers no longer have to pass directly over the rail crossing, which is prone to damage and slickness.
Fruit seller near the location, Bambang (60), said that the flyover construction could be a long-term solution to overcome the problem. He said that road damage at the crossing often occurs even though it has been repaired many times.
‘This is actually often repaired but the durability is not long. Even though it’s repaired continuously, it gets damaged again,’ Bambang said.
He said repairs are usually done when the road conditions have become severe. The repairs generally involve resurfacing. Meanwhile, filling using rocks is usually only temporary.
‘Repairs are typically done when it’s an emergency. If it is filled with stones, that’s usually only temporary,’ he explained.
In addition to road damage, the crossing conditions also often cause congestion, especially during rush hours when many vehicles pass. ‘Especially during work hours or when people are leaving work, it gets worse. Sometimes vehicles get stuck, and more congestion,’ he said.
The road surface also becomes more dangerous when it rains because it becomes slippery. ‘If possible, just build a flyover, so vehicles don’t need to cross the crossing anymore,’ he said.
According to Oblong, the damaged road conditions often cause motorcyclists to slip, especially when it rains. ‘When it rains there are always people slipping. Someone even fell, and residents helped them to get through,’ he explained.
He believes the road damage at the crossing has been ongoing for a long time despite several repairs. ‘If it’s only resurfaced, it’s useless; it will get damaged again no matter how thick the asphalt is,’ he said.
From Kompas.com’s observations at the site, the crossing area appears to be filled with small rocks and soil that cover part of the road between the rails. This condition causes vehicles to slow down and be cautious when crossing.