Speaking in Jayapura on Saturday, Febryan Nurdiansyah, commitment-making official for the Jayapura–Wamena public–private partnership (PPP), said construction began on July 3, 2024, and is scheduled to finish on November 3, 2026.
He said work spans KM 366 in Benawa District to KM 416 in Elelim Subdistrict, Yalimo District, covering roughly 50 kilometers.
The project’s 15-year-four-month concession includes a two-year-four-month construction phase and a 13-year service period for operations and maintenance.
Infrastructure works include upgrading dirt roads to asphalt, building 16 new bridges, and installing a weigh station to prevent overloaded freight vehicles.
PT Hutama Mambelim Trans Papua (HMTP), the implementing business entity, is responsible for financing, technical design, construction, operations, and maintenance throughout the concession.
Febryan said the PPP structure differs from standard road projects because private investors fund both design and construction, with the government providing basic design parameters and technical oversight.
He said the ministry reviews compliance with agreed technical standards, including road width, asphalt thickness, and slope-stabilization methods.
Officials expect the upgraded road to boost economic activity and improve access to education and healthcare across Papua Pegunungan.
He said the project remains on schedule and is expected to sharply reduce Jayapura–Wamena travel times to two–three days from the previous one–two weeks.
Faster travel is expected to improve logistics flows and lower prices of basic goods in highland districts.
Agung Rahmadi, deputy project manager at state-owned construction firm PT Hutama Karya, said construction is progressing and the company is confident it will meet the 2026 deadline.
He said the 50-km alignment is divided into five zones of about 10 kilometers each, supported by roughly 150 heavy machines deployed to accelerate the work.
Asphalt paving has started in Zone 1, while excavation continues in Zones 2 through 5, with several kilometers remaining.
Agung said the company also helps repair landslides or road damage outside the PPP work area to maintain continuity of transport links.
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Translator: Ardiles L, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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