Basuki Targets Toll Road Towards IKN Phase 1 Completed July 2024

Toll road illustration (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) said the road network connecting the City of Balikpapan with the Central Government Core Area (KIPP) of IKN in North Penajam Paser, mainly crosses the IKN Toll Road and the Balang Island Bridge.

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono also targets the toll road network to be completed in July 2024.

"Continue to pay attention and ensure the quality, because the quality of the IKN Toll Road must be better than other toll roads that we have built. In July 2024 it must be completed for Phase 1 and can be operated," Minister Basuki said in a written statement received by VOI, Friday, January 19.

In Phase 1, the construction of the IKN Toll Road is currently running on three sections, namely Section 3A Karangjoang-KKT Kariangau with a progress of 48 percent.

Section 3B KKT Kariangau-Tempang Tempadung Intersection with a progress of 57 percent and Section 5A Simpang Tempadung-Jembatan Pulau Balang along 6.7 km with a progress of 67 percent. These three sections are targeted for completion and functional in July 2024.

Meanwhile, Section 6A Riko- Outer Ring Road IKN and Section 6B ITCI Outer Ring Road-Simpang 3 Outer Plan have now started land acquisition and construction with a progress of 4.8 percent in Section 6A and 17.5 percent in Section 6B.

This IKN Toll Road will shorten the distance from Balikpapan to KIPP IKN, which was originally used to pass the Balikpapan-Samarinda (Balsam) and Lintas Sepaku Toll Roads, which took about 2 hours 15 minutes with a distance of 95 km, to only about 45 minutes with a distance of 57 km.

On this toll road, Kalimantan endemic trees are also planted along the right and left sides of the road, according to IKN principles as a forest city and smart city (smart forest city).

Peningkatan konektivitas menuju IKN juga dilaksanakan dengan melanjutkan kegiatan beautifikasi Jembatan Pulau Balang yang sudah selesai konstruksi pada 2021 lalu.

Security and beautification work began in September 2022 including Structural Health Monitoring System (SHMS) installations, concrete block armored, landscape parks in bridge information center (PIJ) buildings, playgrounds, shophouses, public toilets, mosques, guard posts, floating dock, solar panels and amphitheater.

The construction of the Balang Island Bridge itself consists of a main bridge along 804 meters (m), a 167 m short bridge and an 1,807 m long access road.

The beautification work itself is included in the Tumbukan Ship Protective Package (Fender) and a complementary building with a APBN budget of IDR 306 billion.