President Jokowi: Toll Road to Connect Jakarta-Surabaya in 2018
President Jokowi in a construction site of Bawen-Salatiga Toll Road, in Bawen Subdistrict, Semarang Regency, Central Java, on Saturday (8/4)
President Joko Jokowi Widodo said that by the end of 2018, Jakarta-Semarang, Semarang-Solo, Solo-Surabaya will be connected by toll roads, while the toll road connecting Surabaya Banyuwangi is expected to be completed in 2019.
It will connect each tip of Java Island, President Jokowi said after monitoring a construction site of Bawen-Salatiga Toll Road, in Bawen Subdistrict, Semarang Regency, Central Java, on Saturday (8/4).
According to the President, the construction of Bawen-Salatiga Toll Road is a part of the toll roads connecting Jakarta and Semarang, Semarang and Solo, Solo and Surabaya, as well as Surabaya and Banyuwangi.
The construction of this toll road which connects Bawen and Salatiga has been halted for years due to land acquisition issues, the President added. However, President Jokowi said he is glad because 97 to 99 percent of the land acquisition process in all toll roads and sections was finished.
According to the President, there are several problems in the construction of this toll road, for example they have to conduct hill cutting and earth-shifting/moving in Bawen-Salatiga Toll Road.
As I have mentioned that around 2 million cubic meter of material removed from cuts should be moved. The work is mostly done, while the remaining 140,000 cubic meter needs to be finished, President Jokowi said.
Despite the rain, local people were still very enthusiastic to welcome President Jokowi who was accompanied by First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo.
Before leaving the site to carry on the next schedule, President Jokowi took his time to greet people and distributed several books.
Also accompanying President Jokowi in the event were Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, and Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo. (DNA/FID/ES) (RA/EP/YM/Naster)
