T

he Sidoarjo Mudflow Mitigation Agency (BPLS) said that the Porong turnpike and artery road, set to be completed seven days before Idul Fitri, would be safe for use during the holiday exodus following the drop in hot mudflow activity in Porong, Sidoarjo, East Java.

BPLS deputy operational manager Soffian Hadi said the condition of the Porong highway was far safer than last year despite damage from land subsidence caused by the gush of toxic gas and possible broken
embankments.

“Motorists traveling along the Porong highway need not worry about the toxic gas because activities have subsided following the gradual drop in the mudflow discharge in Sidoarjo. The Porong artery road is also safe from subsidence,” he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Soffian said the decreasing mudflow activities were marked by the drop in mud volume and intensity at the gush point. Last year, 100,000 cubic meters of mud were discharged per day compared to 10,000 cubic meters per day at present.

“The amount of bubbles around the gush point had also declined from 320 bubbles to 15 bubbles now at an intensity of 30 percent. Despite the drop, I cannot be sure when the mudflow would stop,” he said.

A 2-kilometer section of the Porong toll road had been damaged following the mudflow disaster that began on May 29, 2006. Land subsidence has also caused damage to the railway line in the region.

The Porong highway remained open during Idul Fitri last year, but traffic had to be redirected to alternative routes to prevent congestion following the interruption of the Porong turnpike.

The government has intended to build an artery road to replace the Porong turnpike and highway since 2009, but as of now only the artery road is ready for operation, while the turnpike replacement project is expected to commence next year.

East Java Vice Governor Saifullah Yusuf said the government had prioritized building the artery road before Idul Fitri. It is expected to complete 10 days before Idul Fitri so it could accommodate home bound travelers a week before the holiday.

“Workers are currently building a Bailey bridge linking the north and south sides of the Porong artery road,” he said.

The 7.1-kilometer Porong artery spans from Sidoarjo to Pasuruan. The Porong-Gempol artery road project was originally part of the construction package carried out by PT Jasa Marga Indonesia Highway Corporation.

Both projects are to be built at a total cost of Rp 356.2 billion (US$41.8 million) using state budget funds.

Lapindo Hot Mudflow Victim coordinator Agustinus said the completion of the Porong artery road before Idul Fitri did not mean that the mudflow issue was settled because many displaced residents had still not yet received appropriate compensation.

“Some 450 victims from Renokenogo village who are now living in Kedungsolo village in Porong district, for example, can no longer resume building their homes because they have not received compensation installments from Lapindo for the past nine months,” said Agustinus.