Sea Embankment Targeted To Function In January 2025 To Overcome The Semarang-Demak Coastal Rob Flood

Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi and Deputy Governor Taj Yasin Maimoen while inspecting Terboyo and Sriwulan Retention Pools, Semarang, Tuesday (26/5/2025). BETWEEN/HO-Central Java Provincial Government

Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi said the sea embankment is targeted to be functionalized in January 2026 as an effort to overcome floods and tidal waves on the Semarang-Demak coast.

"It can be seen that this is a sea wall or sea embankment. God willing, next January it will be functional, not yet operational. At least if this functional can overcome the tidal wave," he said while reviewing the Terboyo and Sriwulandi Semarang retention pond construction project, Tuesday, May 27, reported by ANTARA.

For the progress of the Semarang-Demak Toll Road construction which also functions as a stage 1 sea embankment, including section 1A, the physical realization reached 62.98 percent with a target completion of July 31, 2026.

Section 1B physical realization is 40.93 percent with a target of completion on April 25, 2027, and Section 1C with a physical realization of 25.97 percent of the target of completion on September 27, 2026.

According to him, the short-term target of the Semarang-Demak Toll Road in January 2026 can be used functionally.

This means, he said, the embankment has been formed, only it has not been operated as a road, but has been able to help hold the sea water so that floods and tidal waves do not occur.

While waiting for the construction of the Semarang-Demak toll road stage 1 or the sea embankment to be completed, the Central Java Provincial Government has also prepared a number of short and medium-term steps, including consistency in the Demak area handled by the relevant agencies, then educating and providing understanding to the public to adapt to the current situation.

He said the adjustment was necessary, because the land subsidence in the Central Java Pantura area was very massive, with an average of 8-14 cm per year, plus the La Nina phenomenon, so that the water discharge increased and the tidal waves in the Pantura area were very high.

"People have been like this for years. That's why we are really speeding up, I have discussed with the Ministry of Public Works and with others, we all come down to solve this together. We have embraced the community all to solve this," he said.

The handling that also needs to be accelerated is the point on Jalan Pantura, precisely in front of Polytron, because the water discharge is quite high and closes the highway. This point in 2022 has been elevated by the Ministry of Public Works, but in the near future it has dropped again.

Luhtfi said Terboyo's retention pond has an area of almost 189 hectares with a water capacity of around 6 million cubic meters, while next to it is Sriwulan with an area of 28 hectares and a capacity of more than 1 million cubic meters.

"This means that with long-term preparation, it is enough to cover the occurrence of tidal waves or floods," he said.

The Terboyo and Sriwulan retention pools are separated by the Babon River which is equipped with a pump house to drain water from the retention pond into the sea, thus preventing prolonged inundation.

The construction of the retention pond is integrated in the Semarang-Demak toll road construction project phase 1 which is also a sea wall, precisely in section 1C.

"We have been infiltration in the Sayung area for almost a month, Demak, including Semarang. We cannot do partial work, we must work comprehensively," said Luthfi.