To Overcome Congestion, Medan City Govt Builds Underpasses On H.M Yamin and Juanda Street

Medan Underpass Design/DOC Diskominfo Medan City Government

MEDAN - Medan City Government plans to build underpasses in two locations, namely H.M Yamin and Juanda Street. The construction of the underpass is expected to unravel congestion in the two areas.

"The construction of the underpass was carried out on H.M Yamin Street, the intersection of Jawa Street and on Juanda Street, the intersection of Brigjen Katamso Street," said the Head of the Medan Water Resources, Highways and Construction Development Service (SDABMBK), Topan Obaja Putra Ginting, as quoted from a written statement, Tuesday, January 24.

Medan's underpass budget is called Topan referring to the results of a feasibility study depicting the underpass development budget at each location, which is IDR 200 billion.

"We have not been able to obtain a detailed budget for the construction of the underpass, because the Detail Engineering Design for this activity has not been completed. However, from the feasibility study, there is an illustration that at one point we will need around IDR 200 billion," he explained.

The construction of the two underpasses uses a multiyear financing scheme, namely the 2023 and 2024 regional budgets. Meanwhile, the tender process is scheduled to begin in April.

Topan emphasized that the decision to build an underpass had gone through a comprehensive study. According to traffic studies and planning at Bappeda, at this time something really needs to be done to deal with traffic jams in Medan.

"Well, we have explained to the Mayor of Medan, that there are several roads in Medan that need handling and the appropriate treatment is the construction of underpasses," he said.

Subsequently, as directed by Bobby Nasution, the plan was implemented. So, the SDABMBK Service also coordinated with the Medan Transportation Agency and asked for opinions from experts.

"From the coordination it was concluded that something needed to be done at Juanda Street Brigjen Katamso Intersection, and H.M Yamin Street Jawa Intersection," he said.