The Ministry Of PUPR Speeds Up The Construction Of The Semarang-Demak Toll Road

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) together with Toll Road Business Entities (BUJT) continues to accelerate the construction of a number of toll roads in various regions in order to improve connectivity between regions and improve the community's economy.

One of them is the Semarang - Demak Toll Road along 26.84 km in Semarang, Central Java.

Expert Staff to the Minister of PUPR for Technology, Industry and Environment as well as Spokesperson for the Ministry of PUPR Endra S. Atmawidjaja said that the Semarang-Demak Toll Road is a national strategic project (PSN) which is planned as a complementary section of the National Pantura Jawa Road that connects Semarang - Demak - Gresik - Surabaya.

"Given its vital role as a logistics route in North Java, the completion of the Semarang - Demak toll road has been awaited by the community. The existence of the Semarang - Demak toll road will increase road capacity as well as reduce the traffic load on Jalan Pantura Jawa which is already very congested and often experiences congestion," Endra said in a statement to the media, Saturday, May 4.

The one who acts as a Toll Road Business Entity (BUJT) is PT PP Semarang Demak (PPSD) which uses the Supported, Build, Operate, and Transfer (SBO-T) scheme.

The toll road consists of BUJT's investment portion on the 16.31 km Sayung - Demak section on land and has been operating since 25 February 2023.

"Meanwhile, the Government portion on the Semarang - Sayung section is 10.64 km above sea and is divided into 3 packages which are currently in the construction stage with a total physical progress of 9.25 percent. The overall construction completion target of the Package is in February 2027," said Endra.

For the Government portion, the implementing contractors Package 1A are Hutama Karya (HK) and Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG), Package 1B is Housing Development (PP), Wijaya Karya (WIKA) and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and Package 1C is Adhi Karya and Sinohydro. Part of the construction funds for this project are sourced from Foreign Loans.

ENdra said, the presence of the Semarang - Demak Toll Road is expected to further complement the connectivity of road networks in the northern part of Central Java as well as connect strategic areas such as ports, airports, industrial areas, and religious tourism areas, especially in the Demak area.

In addition, with the construction of toll roads that are integrated with this sea wall, it is hoped that the problem of tidal flooding in East Semarang, especially Kaligawe - Sayung, which resulted in significant economic losses, can be resolved by the end of 2024. Especially with the construction of embankments up to 7 layers of piles and the operation of Pump Houses in Terboyo and Sriwulan Retention Pools.