West Sumatra is home to a number of winding roads that run along hills and valleys. They are known for being challenging and treacherous for motorists but also for having captivating natural panoramas.

There are four famous winding roads in West Sumatra, Kelok 44 (44 Turns) (near Lake Maninjau), Silaiang (near Lembah Anai valley), Sitinjau Laut (near the Semen Padang cement plant in Padang) and Kelok 9 (in Limapuluh Kota regency). Several old Minang composers have included them in their songs.

Kelok 9 is a very vital state road linking West Sumatra and neighboring Riau province. The road, built by the Dutch between 1908-1914 and started operation in 1930, has become part of West Sumatra'€™s history.

On Oct. 31, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inaugurated the Kelok overpass, made up of six bridges measuring 934 meters in total running over the old narrow road. The mega project, which also has 2 kilometers of access road, was completed in 10 years at a total cost of Rp 602.55 billion (US$52.79 million).

During Yudhoyono'€™s visit to West Sumatra in late October, he consistently praised the beautiful construction of the Kelok 9 overpass, built entirely by Indonesians, as well as the surrounding natural beauty.

'€œFor those who have not seen it yet, please do come, I believe it would add a sense of pride for Indonesia,'€ Yudhoyono said during the inauguration in Padang.

'€œThe scenery is so amazing, especially the green and pristine forest,'€ he said at the Basa Pagaruyung Palace.

The Kelok 9 is also set to become a tourist destination. The Public Works Ministry is organizing an architecture planning concept competition for the area around Kelok 9 with the theme of '€œNature and Engineering in Harmony'€. The winner will be announced on Dec. 3.

Head of tourism division at Limapuluh Kota Culture, Tourism, Sports and Youth Agency, Ali Hasan, said the design competition was a follow up of the Kelok 9 Tourist Destination development program. However, his office has obtained several ideas offered by the Public Works Ministry.

He said the 940 meters of the old road would be used only for tourism. Rest areas and parking lots as well as shops selling food and drinks and souvenirs will be set up at the southern and northern ends of the old road.

'€œVisitors can take an open-roof bus ride to experience traveling on the old historical road and enjoy the panorama,'€ said Ali.

A tourist location will also be built so visitors can enjoy the scenery and enjoy barbecue parties, bungee jumping from the overpass, flying fox or go trekking in the surrounding forests.

Ali'€™s office had also proposed to build a canopy at the Kelok overpass, where a river runs below.

'€œWe have proposed an environmentally-based tourism concept, which includes challenging activities, so they can attract visitors and still preserve the conservation area,'€ said Ali.

Establishing facilities for tourists was extremely urgent, said Ali, given the extraordinary view of the Kelok 9 overpass, which always lures motorists to stop and enjoy the scenery and take pictures. But such activities are very dangerous if carried out on the shoulders of the overpass.

The Kelok 9 area, he added, was owned by three institutions '€” the Public Works Ministry, which owns the road, West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), which owns the Air Putih Natural Sanctuary Forest and Limapuluh Kota regency administration, which has jurisdiction over the area. Currently, the status of the area has been downgraded to a Natural Tourism Area.

'€œWe sincerely hope our proposal will be accepted and that the central government will finance the construction of the tourism infrastructure,'€ he told The Jakarta Post recently.

'€œOur budget is very limited but we are ready to manage the area.'€

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