The construction of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) is steadily progressing, with a significant focus on developing its supporting infrastructure. One of the key projects, the IKN Toll Road, is set to be partially functional by August 2024, promising to enhance connectivity and reduce travel times significantly.
Raja Juli Antoni, the Acting Deputy Head of the Nusantara Capital City Authority (OIKN), assured the public that the IKN Toll Road would start operating in August 2024. During his visit to inspect the toll road construction on Tuesday, June 26, 2024, Raja Juli revealed that the built section of the toll road now spans 82 kilometers.
“God willing, by the end of July 2024, it will be partially completed. The journey from Balikpapan airport, approximately 82.6 kilometers away, will take only 70 minutes. God willing, it will be functional by August,” he stated in a post shared by OIKN, quoted on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
The functionalization of the IKN Toll Road is expected to cut down the travel duration from Balikpapan to KIPP IKN to just 1.5 hours. Currently, the journey via the national road takes about 2.5 hours. “So it will be closer, from 2.5 hours to 70 minutes,” Raja Juli added.
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Reiza Setiawan, Head of the East Kalimantan National Road Implementation Agency (BBPJN) of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), provided further insights into the ongoing construction efforts. He explained that his team is diligently working on the IKN Access Toll Road’s various segments.
Reiza targets that by December 2024, the IKN Toll segments 3A (Karang Joang – KKT Kariangau), 3B (KKT Kariangau – Simpang Tempadung), and 5A (Simpang Tempadung – Pulau Balang Bridge) will be fully connected and completed. As a result, by December 2024, travelers from Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan to IKN will need only about 45 to 50 minutes.
“By December, once everything is connected, we will be able to reach it in about 45 to 50 minutes,” Reiza concluded.
