Construction Of Balikpapan-Samarinda Toll Road 25.92 Percent Completed

JAKARTA, Sept 13 (Antara) - The Committee for the Acceleration of Provision of Priority Infrastructure (KPPIP) said construction of the 99.35 kilometer Balikpapan-Samarinda toll road project in East Kalimantan has been 26 percent completed. The Rp9.97 trillion project is divided into five sections - Section I, the 22.03 kilometers Balikpapan KM 13-Samboja, already 68.36 percent completed; Section II Samboja-Muara Jawa 16.53 percent, Section III Muara Jawa - Palaran 26.71 percent, Section IV Palaran - Samarinda 12.13 percent and Section V 11.1 km Balikpapan - Bandara Sepinggan 8.26 percent completed. In land procurement, which is one of the most difficult factors delaying implementation of infrastructure projects such as toll roads, already 95.4 percent completed. In Section I and II land procurement is already 100 percent completed ; in Section III 95 percent, Section IV 98.2 percent, and Section V 76.28 percent completed. Director of road and bridge projects of KPPIP Max Antameng said administratively land procurement has reached 100 percent in Section II, but construction has to be delayed on land clearing over 16.5 kilometers of the section. The toll road in the section will pass through 24 kilometers in the Bukit Suharto jungle. The permit for the section is yet to be discussed at a coordinating meeting with the Forestry and Environment Ministry, which also member of the KPPIP. The toll road would link two largest cities in East Kalimantan -- Balikpapan and Samarinda. The toll road is expected to greatly facilitate development in that region such as development of palm oil, coal, oil and gas agro-based industrial estates. The project will improve connectivity and reduce logistic cost and cut short traveling time between Samarinda and Balikpapan. The toll road is built by the Toll Road Business Agency (BUJT) of PT Jasa Marga Balikpapan-Samarinda with support from the Central government. The Public Works and Housing Ministry (PUPR) and the provincial administration of East Kalimantan will support work in the construction of the Section I and V. PT Jasa Marga Balikpapan-Samarinda will be responsible for the construction of Section II and IV .