The Development of Padang-Pekanbaru Toll has Officially Began

PADANG - The construction of Padang - Pekanbaru Toll Road along 244 km has began and its targeted to be completed in 2023. Dimulainya pembangunan jalan tol pertama di Sumatera Barat ini ditandai dengan pencanangan dimulainya konstruksi Seksi I ruas Padang - Sicincin sepanjang 28 km oleh Presiden Joko Widodo, di Kota Padang, Sumatera Barat (9/2).

In addition to the launching of toll roads, President Jokowi also inaugurated the completion of the  Bypass Capacity Expansion Project Development along 27 km with a budget of Rp 426 billion, which was undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR).

President Jokowi said infrastructure is fundamental if we want to win the competition with other countries. The existence of infrastructure will lower transportation costs and logistics costs will be much cheaper.

The toll road construction will cut the distance and travel time from Padang to Pekanbaru from 9 hours to 3 hours drive. Not only that, this toll road will also connect two seaports located in Padang and Dumai, Riau.

"The Padang-Pekanbaru Toll Road will streamline the mobility of people and goods, with connecting Teluk Bayur and Dumai Ports, later will increase the movement of goods products," said President Jokowi as reported from pu.go.id (12/2).

Land acquisition will be made by the local government, while the payment of land acquisition will use the bailout funds from PT Hutama Karya as a Toll Road Enterprises (BUJT). If the land is free then the Padang-Sicincin segment is targeted to be completed by the end of 2018. "Hopefully, there is no problem, because this is the demand of the people, because heavy traffic jam in the existing road," said PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono.

The investment required to build Padang - Pekanbaru Toll Road is Rp 78,09 trillion with a five-year completion target (2018-2023). The high cost of investment, in addition to the long distance, will also be built five tunnels with a total length of 8.95 km through the Bukit Barisan mountains.