Bumpy Road Ahead

Shoddy Roadwork Work Cited at Bali’s New Dewa Ruci Simpang Siur Underpass

(6/9/2013)

Complaints are raining in regarding the poor quality of cement paving done by PT Adhi Karya and others in the construction of the new underpass project at the Dewa Ruci Monument at Simpang Siur. 

As reported by Beritabali.com, the cement finish on the roadway through the underpass is uneven and wavy, providing a less-than-smooth ride for passing motorists.

The chairman of the Bali Chapter of the National Association of Contractors, Wayan Adnyana, says, “In my opinion the uneven quality of the cement in underpass is due to one of two possible causes. It was either not built in accordance the original design plans (bestek) or the workmanship is of inferior quality."

Saying he had read complaints about the quality of work on the new road in the local press, Adnyana who also serves as a member of the Bali Provincial House of Representatives (DPRD-Bali), added: “The people have every right to voice their opinion on a project that consumed billions of rupiah from both national and regional budgets. The people will also the ones to use the new road together with the millions of tourists who holiday in Bali.”

Adnyana said he would soon visit the project site to review the overall quality of work performed by the contractor. Such a review, he insisted, must be done before the formal handover of the project from the contractors - PT Adhi Karya to the government.

Adnyana told the press that the land occupied by the new underpass is labile, due to its close location to the mangrove forests. Nonetheless, if the road is “rolling” he insisted there remains little choice but to tear up the road and redo the cement paving.

“The purpose of the underpass is to reduce traffic congestion in South Bali. Because of this the work must be of a high quality, because tens of thousand of vehicles will use the road every day,” sad Adnyana.

The project manager for the new underpass, Hendro Satrio, confirmed to reporters on May 28, 2013, that the roadway was indeed “wavy” and that the road is currently undergoing trial operations. “We are testing the road. In connection with complaints received from the public, we will review the project. We are now correcting deficiencies,” he said.

According to Satrio, a formal review of the project by the contractors would be delivered in June.

The Dewa Ruci Underpass Project was built by PT Adhi Karya and associates at a total cost of Rp. 136.19 billion (US$13.6 million) covering an area of 0.744 hectares.

The project is part of several major infrastructure projects funded by the government in anticipation of the APEC International Summit to take placein October 2013.

Asphalt is not the Answer

There is concern in some circles that the contractors, under pressure by deadlines to complete and handover the project, will offer to reseal the road with asphalt - a step that would quickly improve the “ride” and remove the current unevenness of the underpass’ road bed.

Critics, however, cite the environmental concerns of using a petroleum-based seal on the road and the fear that resurfacing with asphalt  will only incur  additional cost for Bali in the future necesitated by  having to reseal the highway every 4 to 5 years.

Although certain to cause a delay in the handover, critics argue that PT Adhi Karya must be compelled by the government to rebuild the road bed by replacing the cement so inexpertly installed initially.

Source: BaliDiscovery.com