Struggling on the Simaninggir Trans-Sumatra Road, Residents Urge Government Not to Wash Its Hands

Users of the Trans-Sumatra Highway (Jalinsum) in Simaninggir Village, Sitahuis District, Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, are still having to struggle along a stretch of road that has not been fully repaired. The damage occurred on 25 November 2025, coinciding with floods and landslides that hit several areas of Central Tapanuli Regency. The condition of the road surface, which has not been fully restored, is making things increasingly difficult for road users, especially when it rains.

Sopian Harahap, a resident met on Tuesday (18/8), said he chooses to avoid the Simaninggir route because the road condition does not yet provide a sense of safety and comfort for motorists. “We choose to go through Poriaha District, often called Rampa, even though the distance is much longer. But it is safer,” he said.

A similar complaint was voiced by Rois Tinambunan, a resident of Sibolga. He hopes the Central Tapanuli Regency Government will not simply argue that the road section is not under the local government’s authority. According to him, the local government can still play a role by lobbying and coordinating with the provincial and central governments so that repairs to the Simaninggir Trans-Sumatra Highway can soon receive budget support. “Don’t just wash your hands of it. The Central Tapanuli Regency Government must lobby for budget for the road repairs,” he said.

Residents believe the condition of the Simaninggir Trans-Sumatra Highway is not only a matter of travel comfort but also relates to the safety of road users and the smooth flow of mobility and economic activity in the community. Therefore, the local government is expected to take concrete steps by pushing for the acceleration of handling of the road section to the authorities, so that the public does not have to keep struggling along a route that is not yet in optimal condition.