When 10 Million Bamboo Poles Become a "Matras" for the Toll Road Over the Demak Sea
The construction of the Semarang-Demak Toll Road continues to show significant progress. This strategic project has a total length of 26.95 kilometres and is divided into two sections: Section I from Kaligawe to Sayung, spanning 10.64 kilometres, and Section II from Sayung to Demak, spanning 16.31 kilometres. For Section II, which is on land, the route has been operational since 25 February 2023.
The Directorate General of Highway Development, Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), has revealed that the construction of this toll road not only serves as transportation infrastructure but also as a sea wall designed to address tidal flooding issues in the coastal region.
Director General of Highway Development for 2024-2025, Rachman Arief Dienaputra, explained that the Semarang-Demak Toll Road project uses innovative construction technology, namely bamboo matras combined with bamboo piles and Prefabricated Vertical Drain (PVD).
According to him, the use of bamboo material was chosen because it is deemed effective in increasing the load-bearing capacity of soft soil in the coastal area where the project is located. This technology also serves as an adaptive solution to the geographical conditions of Semarang-Demak, which are prone to land subsidence.
To ensure the reliability of this technology, the government has conducted a series of technical tests. The testing was carried out by the Building Materials and Structures Centre under the Directorate of Settlement and Housing Engineering, Directorate General of Human Settlements Development.
Rachman Arief explained that there are two main types of tests conducted on the bamboo matras system, namely tensile testing and flexural testing.
In addition, the soil stabilisation method is further strengthened by the use of a combination of matras and bamboo piles. This technique aims to maintain the stability of the embankment on soft soil to ensure long-term safety.
With the implementation of this technology, the Semarang-Demak Toll Road is expected not only to improve connectivity in the region but also to provide an integrated solution for controlling tidal flooding, which has long been a problem in the northern coastal area of Central Java.