Roadwork starts despite complaints from locals

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

An ambitious road project to build a bypass linking Ciputat district with Tigaraksa, the capital of Tangerang regency, has begun despite complaints that the money would be better spent repairing poorly maintained existing roads in the regency.

Regent Ismet Iskandar, who officiated over the groundbreaking ceremony for the 31-kilometer bypass on Wednesday, said the project would not have gone ahead if they were required to use local contractors, as requested by regency council members.

"We insisted on using state enterprise PT Wijaya Karya instead of local contractors, whose performance is questionable. The roads they build or repair mostly last only three months. We have the data," Ismet said.

He said large sections of roads built by local contractors linking the regency with Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang municipality and Serang, the capital of Banten province, were in poor condition and in need or repair.

The bypass project, estimated to cost Rp 80 billion (US$9.41 million), is beginning in Jatake village, Legok district. The seven-meter-wide road will pass through the districts of Ciputat, Pamulang, Serpong, Cisauk, Pegedangan and Legok Curuk, ending in Tigaraksa.

The contractor estimates the project will be complete within 18 months, including the construction of a 200-meter-long bridge crossing the Cisadane River near state technology center Puspitek Serpong.

Meanwhile, regency infrastructure agency head Maryoso said the administration could not afford to repair damaged roads in the regency.

He said up to 60 percent of roads in the regency, about 1,100 kilometers in total, required repair.

A resident of Pondok Ranji, Ciputat, said the administration should repair damaged roads before building new ones.

"It would be better if the administration repaired the potholes along the roads to Ciputat, Pamulang, Pondok Aren and Serpong. It is impossible to reach our destinations on time because of the poor condition of the roads," he told The Jakarta Post.

The administration said the new bypass would serve as a shortcut, saving residents time and money by allowing them to avoid the traffic congestion.