Trans-Sumatra central highway heavily damaged, unsafe for travel

M. Huzair, The Jakarta Post, Palembang

The main road connecting Lahat and Tebing Tinggi regencies in South Sumatra province has been heavily damaged, making it unsafe in many areas for travel.

On some sections of the 80-kilometer road the asphalt has peeled away, while large potholes dot the road, which is part of the Trans-Sumatra Central Highway.

At least six sections of the road are so heavily damaged that they are extremely prone to accidents, Lahat Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Nugroho Adji said on Monday.

The sections are located in six subdistricts in Lahat regency, including Madu Raksa, Gunung Kembang and Saung Naga. In Madu Raksa subdistrict, there is a large pothole in the highway every 50 meters to 100 meters.

"Cars have a very difficult time avoiding these holes because there are so many," Nugroho said.

He said police planned to erect posts along the damaged sections of road so officers could respond quickly to accidents.

The presence of police officers will also help deter robberies, which are much more likely because cars are forced to come to a virtual stop as they navigate the potholes.

The Trans-Sumatra Highway is popular with travelers coming from Jakarta and Lampung to main cities on Sumatra island. The highway connects Lampung with South Sumatra, Jambi, Bengkulu, West Sumatra, Riau and Aceh provinces.

Given the prominent role the highway plays in transportation on Sumatra island, South Sumatra Governor Syahrial Usman said his government would take immediate action to repair the road.

"I just received the report on the damage to the road," he said.

The governor said he had ordered the public works and transportation agencies to repair the road immediately, adding that his government had earmarked Rp 4 billion (US$425,531) for road repairs.