IKN Access Obstacle Free Road Will Be Functioned To Smooth The Movement Of RI Anniversary Guests

President Joko Widodo (left) and Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono reviewed the IKN toll road project which has reached 55 percent progress in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Wednesday (1/11/2023). (ANTARA PHOTO/Hafidz Mubarak A/nym/aa)

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono said that the Free Access Barrier Road for the Capital City of the Archipelago (IKN) will be used to facilitate the movement of guests of the 79th Indonesian Independence Day ceremony on August 17, 2024.

"All access roads starting from toll roads, ring roads and national axis roads are prepared to support the smooth running of the participants to attend the 79th Independence Day ceremony of the Republic of Indonesia," he said in an official statement, Sunday, July 28.

Basuki said the IKN Access Obstacle Free Road would be connected to the Balikpapan-Samarinda (Balsam) Toll Road, precisely at KM 8-Kariangau.

"Then go to Sepaku and enter IKN Nusantara which takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes," he explained.

Furthermore, Basuki explained that the construction of the IKN Access Free Road has now been running in Section 3A Karangjoang-KKT Kariangau along the 13.4 km with 81.15 percent progress.

"Section 3B KKT Kariangau- Tempadung Intersection is 7.3 km long with a progress of 91.53 percent, Section 5A Simpang Tempadung-Jembatan Pulau Balang along 6.67 km with a progress of 88.28 percent," he explained.

Then, continued Basuki, Section 5B of the 13.27 km Balang-Riko Island Bridge with a progress of 23.54 percent. Then, Section 6A Riko- IKN Outer Ring Road Plan for 6.28 km with 31.68 percent progress and Section 6B ITCI Outer Ring Road-Simply Plan for 6.18 km with a progress of 35.18 percent.

"In addition to toll roads, the construction of the Balang Bentang Island Bridge duplication is currently being completed and painting the Balang Island Bridge," he said.

Basuki said the duplication of the short-span Balang Island bridge is important to complete the long-span Balang Island Bridge while connecting the Balang Island Bridge, which has been completed and this afternoon President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated.

Previously, it was reported that PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, who is also the Acting Chair of the Archipelago Capital Authority (OIKN) together with Acting Deputy Chief of OIKN Raja Juli Antoni accompanied President Jokowi to try the IKN Access Obstacle Free Road by driving a two-wheeled vehicle (motor bicycle) as well as inaugurating the Balang Island Bridge, Sunday, July 28.

President Jokowi said that the Balang Island Bridge is one of the supporting infrastructure for IKN, especially in terms of connectivity from Balikpapan City as part of the IKN Toll Road section.

"Alhamdulillah, this afternoon we inaugurate one of the supporting infrastructure for IKN, namely the Balang Island Bridge which connects Balikpapan to Penajam Paser Utara and to South Kalimantan. Built since 2015 at a cost of IDR 1.43 trillion, and I have also tried the toll road. It's not finished but it's smooth and comfortable," said Jokowi.