JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Kertajati West Java International Airport (BIJB) Access Toll which is connected to the Cikopo-Palimanan (Cipali) Toll Road has accelerated its construction. Access to the Kertajati BIJB is considered important to support the development of a triangle of economic growth areas that includes Patimban Port in Subang Regency, Kertajati Airport in Majalengka Regency, and areas in Bekasi, Karawang and Purwakarta.

In turn, the regional triangle which is the center of national industry will be connected to each other and increase national competitiveness. The toll road connecting the Kertajati area with Bandung is targeted to operate by the end of 2021 or at the latest 2022. Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono said that the construction of the Airport Access Toll is expected to support connectivity to BIJB thus contributing to developing the Kertajati area.

"With the completion of the Cisumdawu Toll Road in 2021 which is connected to the BIJB access toll road, it will reduce the travel time from Bandung by around 3 hours to 1 hour," said Basuki in a written statement, Wednesday (12/30/2020).

With more complete connectivity, BIJB operationalization is believed to be increasingly increasing and competitive, so it is expected to replace Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung. The construction of an access toll road to BIJB Kertajati which is connected to the Cipali Toll Road starts from KM 158 + 700. The Kertajati BIJB Access Development which is an addition to the scope of the Cipali Toll Road, is designed to be 3.38 kilometers long.

Technically, this toll road will be equipped with seven ramps that will connect the airport with the Cipali Toll Road and the Cileunyi-Sumedang-Dawuan (Cisumdawu) Toll Road. In addition, 4 lanes for two directions with a width of 3.6 meters. Meanwhile, the access ramp has a lane width of 4 meters, equipped with 2 bridges.

The construction of this toll road has been built since the work contract on September 28, 2020, with an implementation period of 305 calendar days. The development progress until December 20, 2020 has reached 34.72 percent or faster than the plan of 34.61 percent. The construction was carried out by PT Lintas Marga Sedaya as the concession holder and also PT Pembangunan Perumahan (Persero) and PT ACSET Indonusa Tbk. as the executing contractor with a project value of Rp 692 billion.