Jokowi Inspects Progress In Kalimantan's First Toll Road Project

Balikpapan, West Kalimantan (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) took a walk for several meters in inspecting the construction of Kalimantan's first toll road project  linking Balikpapan in West Kalimantan,  and Samarinda  in East Kalimantan.

Jokowi, accompanied by a number of cabinet ministers and provincial officials,  wanted to see progress made in the construction of the 99.2 kilometers toll road .

The project to cost an estimated Rp14.9 trillion,is to be completed in May, 2019 .

East Kalimantan Governor Awang Faoek said the toll road would cut the driving time  by two hours between the two largest cities in the province.

"It will greatly facilitate economic development in the province," he said, adding it will be very important for Kalimantan connectivity .

Development of the toll road project is divided into five sections with section I Balikpapan-Samboja, second II  Samboja-Palaran I, section III Samboja-Palaran II, section IV Palaran-Jembatan Mahkota,  and section VBalikpapan-Sepinggan.

"Implementation of the project has been years delayed over land status of conservation,"  the governor said. (WDY)