Basuki Will Continue to Improve the Quality of Border Roads in Papua

INDUSTRY.co.id - Merauke - The border road between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea continues. Until the end of 2017, from the length of 1,098 km of border road from Merauke to Jayapura, has been translucent 891 km and has not penetrated 207 km.

Minister of Public Works and People's Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said in 2019 all border roads are targeted to be connected. "In 2018 new road will be opened along the 18 km in a very steep area so that at the end of 2018 that has not penetrated 189 km," said Minister Basuki on the way to review the condition of Merauke - Boven Digul road along 424 km, Friday (16/3/2018) .

During the trip, most of the conditions are relatively good. Cars can travel at an average speed of 60 km / h. Good road conditions can be found even paved roads long enough, complete with median line.

But there are still 58 km of roads with mild and moderate damage conditions, even found some spot roads are still muddy because it is soft soil and swamp areas. Road conditions need to be addressed immediately.

"Of the five road preservation packages Merauke-Boven Digul, 2 packages have been signed contracts in early February 2018, but not working optimally. I ask that BBPJN XVIII encourage contractors to work harder so that 3-4 months of damaged roads can be repaired. Must be full speed, "said Minister Basuki.

To speed up the repair, Minister Basuki will send a special team from Jakarta. The existence of border roads has provided tangible benefits to border communities in Papua. The original journey time in the number of weeks, the shorter into a matter of days and now it can be 8 hours. If the road is getting better condition, it can be taken 6 hours only.

Boven Digul Regent Benediktus Tambonot who participated in the trip said gradually the condition of Merauke-Boven Digul road getting better.

"Thank God we also thank the President Joko Widodo who has built this Trans and Border Road Papua. Although there are still holes, I thank the Minister PUPR is swift so that in the next 3-4 months will be fixed soon, "he explained

Its benefits to the ease of transportation of goods and people, which impact on the decrease in the price of goods. In the past when the road conditions are still badly damaged, the price is very high. Now that it can be reached within hours, the price of basic foods, building materials, clothing, vegetables are now relatively cheap until the Bintang mountains are also served this road.

The Merauke-Boven Digul road preservation faces challenges with swamp and softland conditions. Therefore, the elevation of the road body using the land on the side of the road.

"(Road raising from the side of the road) is more effective than hoarding with land from outside the District. Road improvements also do not use split stone due to the absence of material at the site. The split stone must be imported from Palu at an expensive haulage cost. Therefore, Matos material is used as a mixture of soil and cement and then the road body is paved, "said Basuki.

Road drainage is needed to keep the water level under the road, especially during the rainy season. Thus road conditions can be maintained.