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espite the West Java Police previously recommending that the road connecting Jakarta and Puncak in Bogor, West Java, remain closed during roadworks to improve the structure of the landslide-prone road, authorities have decided to reopen the road for the public to gauge its durability.

Bogor Traffic Police chief Adj. Comr. Hasby Ristama said the decision to reopen the road on Monday was the result of a meeting between the Bogor Police, the Transportation Ministry’s director general for land transportation as well as the Public Works and Housing Ministry on Sunday, after a survey of the road.

The Puncak road had been closed to the public since Feb. 7, following a landslide in the area that caused several fatalities and potentially compromised the structure of the road.

“With the road being opened, we will conduct an assessment over the next few days. A team will observe first-hand the movement of vehicles on the Puncak road, as several spots were affected by erosion, such as the Pinus curve and the Puncak pass,” said Hasby, adding that extra precautions were taken for heavier vehicles, such as buses and trucks.

Buses and trucks are currently limited to Megamendung, Cisarua and Taman Safari using the Ciawi-Sukabumi-Cianjur toll road or the Cibubur-Cileungsi-Jonggol-Cariu-Cianjur route.

The Cibubur route is touted as a faster alternative to the Puncak road, as it allows travellers to reach Cianjur in around 1,5 hours, as opposed to 3,5 hours via the Puncak route.

However, Hasby explained that the road could be closed again if an incident were to occur.

“The public should know that we do not want such events to happen again. The government would like to provide a sense of security and comfort for the public,” he said.

In the first phase, the Public Works and Housing Ministry has conducted emergency repair work, which is to be followed by an assessment of the ground’s contours. This, in turn, will guide the ministry’s decision as to construction work along the Puncak road.

Atyanto Busono, head of the ministry’s national roadwork center for region VI, which covers Jakarta, Banten and West Java, said on Sunday that the initial repairs had been completed, with more thorough repair efforts under way.

The repair process is estimated to take around three months, with the ministry pledging to finish the project in time for Idul Fitri, which falls in June this year. (jlm)