The Rise Of ODOL Trucks Is Suspected To Be The Cause Of The Collapse Of The Cipali Toll Road

Cipali toll road subsided (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Advocacy and Community Affairs of the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI), Djoko Setijowarno, suspects that one of the causes of the subsidence of the Cikampek-Palimanan (Cipali) toll road is due to the rise of passing over dimension over loading (ODOL) vehicles.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, ODOL trucks were rampant. There were no tickets. So, to some extent, it also affected road damage, like on the Cikampek toll road. It's complicated. The problem is complex," he said, when contacted by VOI, in Jakarta, Tuesday, February 9.

The Cipali Toll Road is one of the important sections for distribution routes in Java Island. Thus, the subsidence of the route at Km 122 + 400 towards Jakarta will greatly affect the distribution of logistics.

"Oh yes, it is clear, it will affect the distribution of logistics. At least two weeks this will be the period for his repair," he said.

The only expressway connecting West Java to Central Java is the Cipali toll road. However, this toll road was closed due to the subsidence of the road at Km 122 + 400. So, another alternative for road users is the Pantura route.

However, the Pantura road access is also currently closed due to floods surrounding Semarang, Central Java, on Saturday, February 6. The flood was caused by heavy rains that flushed the capital of Central Java for 12 hours since Friday night.

"Yes, no more, through Pantura (but it was flooded). Then through the real road. That is the choice or by air," he said.

Meanwhile, Astra Tol Cipali as the manager of the Cipali Toll Road finally closed the roads leading to Jakarta and imposed a contraflow starting from Km 117 to Km 126.This policy was taken because the toll road sections had collapsed and could not be passed by vehicles at Km 122 + 400 directions Jakarta.

Coordination with the police has also been carried out by conducting contraflow since February 9, 2021 at 01.00 WIB.

Repair of subsidence roads will take about two weeks. To reduce the traffic load, an emergency lane was built in the median, estimated to take three days.