Tegal (Bina Marga) - Director General of Highways of the Ministry of PUPR, Hediyanto W. Husaini said it would impose integration of toll gate along the 270 KM toll road from Jakarta-East Brebes. This he revealed in an annual review ahead of the Lebaran homecoming flow (23/05). Also participating was Head of the Toll Road Regulatory Agency, Hery TZ, and Head of the National Road Implementing Agency IV, Bambang Hartadi.

According to Hediyanto, the integration of the toll gate is intended to maintain the capacity of the toll road according to its design, even when in a congested condition when going home. Under normal conditions, from the Cikarang Utama gate to East Brebes there are 7 toll gates that must be passed, this number will be reduced to 3. This is done to reduce the queue of vehicles at the toll gate which reduces traffic capacity.

"What used to be 7 toll gates will be only 3. So we will close 4 toll gates in Cikopo, Plumbon, Ciperna, and Mertapada. Because at 4 doors the flow is only 1/10 of the original road capacity. So if there are 2000 toll road capacities due to the toll gate queue to 200 per lane. imagine staying 1/10 imagine if we closed the 4 toll exits. So we close the toll exit so that the toll capacity is in accordance with the design. 2000 yes 2000 traffic can pass, "explained Hediyanto.

According to the Head of BBPJN IV, Bambang Hartadi, this integration aims to reduce obstacles when paying or taking tickets on the four toll roads. "Right now, the obstacle on the toll road to the east is that we stop at the main Cikarang to get tickets. Then at the Cikopo gate pay and take a ticket and then later in Palimanan, and so on. What we count is 7. We will reduce these barriers by 4, "explained Bambang in Banjar, West Java (05/24).

But before this policy is implemented, in mid-June a trial will be implemented on the integration of this toll gate. "Long before Lebaran we will simulate what we lack and socialization to the community," he said. Then regarding toll rates will still be accumulated at the exit gate.

Meanwhile regarding the condition of the 270 km toll road from Jakarta (Cikarang Utama) to East Brebes, the Director General of Highways claimed that the preparations were better. For example, the Kanci Pejagan Toll, which used to have generally been employed during the fasting month, but is now 95% complete. "So it remains only jobs that are not important in the boarding house. In Cipali Toll, there is little maintenance work, "explained Hediyanto.

According to him, the most encouraging one is the Pejagan-Brebes Timur Toll Road which has been completed and is ready to operate. The completion of the 26 Km toll road is expected to have a big influence on the comfort of travelers. Because last year, the road surface was still in the form of dirt roads.

Even so, Hediyanto admitted there needed to be special attention to the intersection of the East Brebes exit gate with the national road). From direct observation, the width of intersections and existing national roads seem unbalanced. According to him there must be a certain focus on how to manage traffic at the intersection. He only hoped that most of the vehicles had spread so that the buildup of vehicles could be reduced.

"But that will be our botle neck this year. Hopefully next year it can be passed. Yes we see that indeed this improvement cannot all be completed. "Something is being done, it will be better next year," he said.

Bina Marga will also open an alternative route for the 2.8km North Ringline of Tegal City in anticipation of traffic jams due to a surge in vehicles from the East Brebes toll exit in Tegal City. Some of these pathways have been concrete paved precisely from Jalan Mataram (city) to Jalingkut intersection while the rest have not been paved and minimal lighting and signposts. (ian)