Variable road conditions

Variable road conditions

From Kompas

Just before Lebaran, late last year, I traveled overland with my family. We left Jakarta for Yogyakarta, taking the southern route via Bandung, Tasikmalaya, Banjar, Kebumen and Wates. On our return to Jakarta, we took the northern coastal route via Boyolali, Salatiga, Semarang, Tegal, Cirebon, Pamanukan and Cikampek.

We were deeply impressed by the quality of the roads. Only a few sections along the southern route were not surfaced, so we were able to drive at a minimum speed of 60 km/h. When we took the northern coastal route, we could drive at between 90 km/h and 100 km/h because the roads were smooth and mostly two-way. Indeed, we even managed to get home before the peak of the exodus back to Jakarta.

However, our pride and gratefulness were short-lived. A month ago we traveled by bus from Pontianak to Putussibau in West Kalimantan. The road conditions were good until we reached the regency of Sintang. The remaining part of the road to Putussibau, which was about 250 km, was in a very bad state of disrepair. On one occasion the bus crew and some truck workers had to tow our bus because it got trapped in a huge pothole in the road. We all know that Kalimantan is rich in natural resources. So, why doesn't it use that wealth to improve its infrastructure?

ANALGIN GINTING

Bekasi, West Java