Musi Banyuasin, KOTABARI.COM – The condition of the Middle Cross Road (Jalinteng) in the Sekayu District of Musi Banyuasin Regency (Muba), particularly in front of Hotel Dian and Ijat Kopling Coffee Shop, is becoming increasingly concerning. The road, damaged and pockmarked with large potholes, is making it difficult for several large, medium, and motorcycle vehicles trapped in post-rainwater puddles.
Direct observations reveal that several meters of the damaged road require drivers to exercise extreme caution when passing through. This situation is further exacerbated by water puddles, making the potholes even harder to spot.
Many vehicles have become trapped, even stuck, in these sizable potholes. Previously, a motorcycle even toppled over due to the driver’s unawareness of the pothole.
One resident, Guntur Ijat, who owns a business in the vicinity, the Ijat Kopling Coffee Shop, expressed his concern about the road’s condition. He recounted an incident from the previous night where a truck carrying ceramics stumbled into the pothole.
“Last night, there was a truck carrying ceramics headed to Lubuk Linggau. While I was serving coffee, the truck suddenly sank into the pothole, producing a loud thud and vibration,” said Guntur on Sunday (4/21/2024).
Guntur added that it’s not only cars that get stuck; motorcycles frequently fall due to the road’s potholes. Previous attempts at patching have been made, but since the road is a throughway and prone to flooding, the patches don’t last long.
“While no casualties have occurred yet, I hope this road gets repaired soon to prevent further accidents. Moreover, the insufficient lighting during the night adds to the danger,” he added.
Surya Teguh, a Palembang-Bengkulu travel driver, also shared his experience. He had to replace his car’s tire with a spare one because the deteriorating road caused a puncture.
“My tire burst, but it wasn’t too severe yesterday. Now, the pothole is getting deeper. Hopefully, it gets fixed soon to prevent further casualties,” he hoped.
AKP Ricky Mozam, the Traffic Chief of Muba Police Resort, urged residents passing through Jalinteng Palembang-Sekayu, particularly in Sekayu District, to exercise caution. The severely damaged road due to rain and heavy traffic of large vehicles poses a significant potential danger.
“We will coordinate with relevant authorities for repairs or patching as the road’s condition is quite severe. I urge residents to be more cautious and to stop if feeling fatigued,” concluded AKP Ricky Mozam.
With the road condition worsening, it is hoped that relevant authorities will take immediate steps for repairs to ensure the safety of road users.