The House of Representatives Commission V Team led by Michael Wattimena conducted a specific work visit to check the readiness of 2017 Lebaran homecoming infrastructure on Thursday (15/06). The route traveled is the Jakarta-Cikampek, Cikopo-Palimanan, Palimanan-Kanci, Kanci-Pejagan, Pejagan-Pemalang, and Pemalang-Batang Toll Roads. In this visit, the House of Representatives Commission V Team was accompanied by the Director of Road Development Gani Ghazali Akman, Head of the Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT) Herry TZ, and Head of the National Road Implementation Agency (BBPJN) VII Herry Marzuki.

Michael stated that the purpose of this specific work visit was to directly observe the infrastructure readiness that would be used for the 2017 Lebaran homecoming. He hoped that all relevant parties could provide a solution to prevent vehicle queues from occurring at several toll gates as in last year's Lebaran homecoming. "Surely we hope that the events in 2016 will not be repeated in 2017," he said.

In his presentation before the Board Members, the Head of BPJT, Herry TZ said that based on the evaluation that had been done, there were two points of severe congestion in the previous year, namely the Pejagan Toll gate and the East Brebes Toll gate. The cause of congestion at Pejagan last year was the railroad crossing which this year has been overcome by building 4 flyovers in the area. Meanwhile, the solution provided by the government to overcome congestion at the exit of the East Brebes toll road is to develop a 110km functional toll road from East Brebes to Grinsing.

"To date, there are only a number of minor works that are still being carried out, including the installation of signs and water and electricity facilities in the rest area. However, overall this toll road section has been connected and can be passed by vehicles even though it is only coated in thin concrete (lean concrete). vehicles that pass a maximum of 40km / hour, "explained Herry.

It is expected that with the addition of this toll road the traffic flow will be distributed and not accumulate in one place. Travelers who go to Tegal, Pemalang, Batang, or Grinsing can exit at different toll booths. The smooth flow of vehicles can also be maximized because the functional toll roads in East Brebes to Grinsing will only be applied in one direction. "Later when Eid al-Fitr, a one-way flow will be applied from Brebes to Grinsing and when the reverse flow will be applied in reverse," said the Head of BPJT.

In addition to adding toll roads that can be traversed by travelers this year, the Directorate General of Highways has also built 4 flyovers (FO) on a level track so that vehicle buildup does not occur. The Head of BBPJN VII, Herry Marzuki stated that all four flyovers could be used during Lebaran homecoming. "At present a trial is being carried out for vehicles to pass," he said.

The four flyovers are FO Dermoleng in Ketanggungan, Brebes Regency; FO Klonengan in Tegal Regency; Kesambi FO in Prupuk Village, Tegal Regency, and FO Kretek in Paguyangan District, Brebes Regency. "Of the four flyovers, only the Kretek flyovers have not yet been completed because they have not been concreted, so they are temporarily using the Bailey bridge. However, it is still functional and can be passed by vehicles, "explained Herry Marzuki. (LY)