Government Builds Trans Papua Road to Make Basic Needs Cheaper

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works (PU) continues to accelerate the construction of the Trans Papua Road, Jayapura-Wamena Segment, Mamberamo-Elelim as an effort to reduce logistics costs and reduce the prices of basic necessities in Papua Highlands.

The 50.14 kilometer road is expected to be the main link that opens the isolation of the region as well as facilitating the distribution of goods and community mobility.

Minister PU Dody Hanggodo said that the construction of roads and bridges is an important foundation to strengthen connectivity between economic growth centers in various regions of Indonesia, including lagging areas.

"The development of road and bridge networks that connect cities, islands to underdeveloped areas throughout Indonesia we do to open access for investment, support industrial areas, encourage tourism sector growth and strengthen connectivity," said Dody as quoted from a written statement, Monday, August 3.

According to Dody, the construction of the Jayapura-Wamena Section of the Mamberamo-Elelim Section is not only aimed at facilitating transportation flows, but also has a direct impact on people's lives.

With better road access, the cost of transporting goods is projected to fall, so that the prices of basic necessities, which have been relatively high due to the difficulty of transportation access, can become more affordable.

In addition, the road is expected to facilitate children to go to school, speed up patient access to health facilities, facilitate government services and open new economic opportunities for people in Papua Mountains.

The construction of the Mamberamo-Elellim section is carried out through the Government-Business Cooperation (KPBU) scheme using a service-based payment mechanism or Availability Payment (AP).

The project began in July 2024 and is targeted to be completed in November 2026.

As of mid-July 2026, the physical progress of construction has reached 51.59 percent.

The work that took place included the opening and formation of road bodies, the construction of road pavement structures, drainage, bridges, complementary buildings, earthworks, slope protection, installation of road equipment to the construction of the Motor Vehicle Weighing Unit (UPPKB).

The construction of the section faces a not-so-light challenge because it crosses a mountainous area with steep cliffs, dense forests, high rainfall almost all year round and areas with landslide potential.

The mobilization of heavy equipment and construction materials also requires special handling considering the limited access to the project site.

To overcome these challenges, the PU Ministry has implemented various modern technologies in the planning and construction process.

The route planning is carried out using satellite-based Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) technology Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) which is combined with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) survey to produce more accurate topographic data.

In addition, geotechnical surveys are carried out in detail as the basis for preparing construction designs, including adjusting the work methods to field and weather conditions.

At landslide-prone points, slope drainage systems, cliff stabilization, installation of soil retaining structures in certain locations, revegetation and monitoring of slope conditions periodically are carried out to maintain the safety and sustainability of road functions.

The Trans Papua Road Project also provides economic benefits since the construction period through the involvement of local communities.

Until now, as many as 116 local workers or about 28 percent of the total project workers have been involved in the construction of the Mamberamo-Elelim section as part of efforts to empower the Papuan community's economy.

Through the construction of the Trans Papua Road, the Ministry of PU hopes that the connectivity between the provinces of Papua and Papua Mountains will be stronger, logistics distribution will be more efficient, transportation costs will decrease, and people's access to education, health services, and economic activities will be more open.

Thus, the benefits of infrastructure development are expected to be felt directly through increased community welfare and more affordable basic necessities.