Strategic Road Construction In East Java Strengthens Regional Economic Connectivity

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa inspects the repair of the damaged road which is strategically located in Jember, Sunday (25/5/2025). BETWEEN ANTARA/HO-Biro Adpim East Java

JAKARTA - The East Java Provincial Government continues to strive to strengthen connectivity between regions by building and repairing strategic roads in various regions.

One of the real steps is to improve road infrastructure in Jember Regency, which is an important part of the connecting route to the southern region.

The Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, directly inspected the 7.5-kilometer road repair project that connects the Rambi Puger area, including the Kasiyan Kencong T-junction. Currently, development progress has reached around 25 percent, with a total budget of IDR 24 billion.

"This is a form of continuation of strategic infrastructure development from the East Java Provincial Government. Our target is that this project can be completed in October, and in the 2026 APBD it is planned to add another 10 kilometers," said Khofifah while in Jember, as quoted by ANTARA.

He emphasized that the development aims not only to improve road quality, but also as a strategic step to open economic access, accelerate the distribution of goods and services, and attract investors to enter the southern region of Jember.

In addition to repairing the main road, the East Java Provincial Government through the Public Works Office of Bina Marga also continued the construction of concreteization on the Kasiyan Puger and Kasiyan two kilometers long with a width of nine meters, using the high quality concrete quality of Fs 4.5 Mpa.

Not only that, an additional 500-meter-long project is also being worked on the Balung "Rambi Puji" section, with a road width of 11 meters. All of this work is targeted for completion in October 2025, plus another five-kilometer road reconstruction project in the same location.

"By considering regional fiscal capabilities, we are trying to optimize budget allocations, including through the Revised APBD, so that development can be faster and more equitable," added Khofifah.

This step is part of the East Java Provincial Government's big vision in building the southern region as a new growth center, which is able to support logistics, industrial, and community activities at large.

Before repairs were carried out, this road section suffered heavy damage due to the high activity of large tonnage vehicles, such as industrial trucks and freight transport. This condition has an impact on the high risk of accidents and inconvenience to road users.

Now, the face of road infrastructure in the area has changed significantly. The road, which used to be full of holes, is now a concrete road that is sturdy, safe, and comfortable for motorists and local residents.

As a form of collaboration between the government and the private sector, 500 meters long road construction was also inaugurated in East Kasiyan Village, Puger District. This Rp5.5 billion project received support from PT Semen Imasco Asiatic, showing positive synergy in accelerating regional development.

According to Governor Khofifah, cooperation between the government and the business world is very important in creating inclusive and sustainable development, especially in suburban areas that require more attention.

"Collaboration like this needs to be strengthened so that development can run harmoniously and on target," he explained.

Meanwhile, the Regent of Jember, Muhammad Fawait, expressed his appreciation for Governor Khofifah's concrete steps. According to him, Khofifah not only gave ideas, but also showed commitment through real action in the field.

"He is not only talking about concepts, but immediately going down and working. We in Jember are ready to work together to support the development of East Java as a new gate for the archipelago," he said.

Local residents also welcomed this project. They assess that road construction has a direct impact on their lives, especially in the smooth running of daily activities and the increasingly efficient distribution of industrial logistics.