T

he governor of West Java wants road and bridge repairs on the Java’s Pantura north coast highway to be finished by Saturday.

“West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan has issued an instruction that all the roads and bridges between Indramayu and Cirebon must be completed 10 days prior to Idul Fitri, or by Aug. 20 [Saturday],” West Java Administrative and Development Coordinating Agency (BKPP) head Ano Sutrisno said.

The Pantura highway, one of the nation’s busiest, is the main land transport corridor between Jakarta and other parts of Java Island.

Renovations are still underway on sections of the Pantura highway near Indramayu between Sewo and Lohbener and between Karangampel and Krangkeng.

Workers were also reportedly busy on sections of the highway near Cirebon, including the Arjawinangun-Palimanan, the Kapetakan-Celancang-Cuningjati, the Plered-Harjamukti-Mundu, and the Kanci-Gebang-Losari sections.

The routes under renovation are the busiest sections of the Pantura highway between Indramayu and Cirebon and will be heavily trafficked as people journey from West Java to Central Java during the holiday.

Several bridges were still under renovation in Cirebon, including the Pengarengan and Pangenan bridges in Pangenan and the Cibeureus bridge in Gebang.

“Renovations are still being carried out on several routes. In general, road conditions along the Pantura in West Java between Indramayu and Cirebon to Losari in Central Java are already suitable for traffic,” said Ano.

Ano was confidence that roadwork would be complete by Saturday. “We’ve been carrying out repairs since early this year. Most of it is near completion,” he said.

Travel is expected to peak a week before Idul Fitri, which will fall on Aug. 30 or 31, pending official announcement from the government.

An estimated 15.47 million people, will mudik this year, up from 14.85 million in 2010, including about 2 million travelers bound for West Java.

“A large number of them will use the Pantura highway to return to their hometowns, not to mention others from Jakarta who wish to travel to Central and East Java. We must make sure the roads have actually been well-prepared,” Ano said.

Separately, Wawan Irawan, a Volcanic and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) geologist, warned travelers on possible rain-induced landslides.

“Soil on the hills might crack. If rain falls with a high intensity, the land may slide,” he said in Bandung on Tuesday.

The PVMBG has advised regional administrations on 40 landslide hot spots, according to Wawan, including 13 in Central Java, 12 in East Java and six in northern Java.

West Java had 15 designated landslide hot spots, including Jonggol-Cariu, Rangkasbitung-Bogor (Cipanas Lawangtaji), Ciawi-Cianjur (Ciloto on Kilometer 88, Megamendung Kilometer 124), Cianjur-Sindangbarang (Pagelaran and Tanggeung), Bandung-Cianjur (Citatah on Kilometer 28.5 and Cipatat), Bandung-Garut (Cimuncang on Kilometer 11), Garut-Pameungpeuk (Cisompet), Garut-Tasikmalaya (Tenjowaringin).

Udjwalaprana Sigit, a PVMBG official in West Java, said that his office and Bina Marga Work Agency would prepare heavy machinery to clear potential landslides on the hot spots.