Jakarta – PT Hutama Karya Infrastruktur (HKI) is currently working on the construction of rest areas or Tempat Istirahat dan Pelayanan (RSA) along the Pekanbaru-Dumai Toll Road. The 131-kilometer toll road, also constructed by HKI, has been operational since 2020, enhancing connectivity between Pekanbaru and Dumai in Riau Province.
The RSAs being developed by HKI along the Pekanbaru-Dumai Toll Road are located in Pekanbaru city and three districts in Riau Province: Siak, Bengkalis, and Dumai. A total of ten RSAs are under construction, with distances between each rest area ranging from 20 to 30 kilometers. Five of the RSAs are located along the A (Pekanbaru-Dumai) and B (Dumai-Pekanbaru) lanes, including Km 14+500 A&B, Km 45+200 A, Km STA 46+050 B, Km 65+000 A&B, and Km 82+300 A&B.
Construction on these RSAs began in March 2023 and is targeted for completion in December 2023. There are two types of RSAs being developed: Type A and Type B. Type A includes facilities such as public restrooms, mosques, food courts, MSMEs stands, minimarkets, parking for both small and large vehicles, and areas designated for future gas stations (SPBU) and commercial spaces. Type B includes similar facilities but excludes the areas for gas stations and commercial spaces.
Currently, HKI is working on site development for all RSA locations and the construction of mosques, restrooms, and food courts at Km 45 (towards Dumai) and Km 65 (towards Pekanbaru). As of May 12, 2023, overall progress for the RSA construction reached 13.20%. Prioritizing work such as building design, construction, and operational readiness is necessary to meet the project timeline.
The project faces challenges, especially during special moments like the 2023 Eid holiday, when toll road usage spiked. Some facilities at Km 45 (towards Dumai) and Km 65 (towards Pekanbaru) rest areas, including restrooms, parking, and prayer rooms, were temporarily activated to accommodate increased toll road traffic.
Managing the work across ten locations simultaneously has also proven to be a challenge for HKI. "Effective project management is essential to completing the construction of these 10 rest areas on time," stated Selo Tjahjono, Director of Operations III.
The project team for the Pekanbaru-Dumai Toll Road RSAs consists largely of millennials, from officers to managers, including the project manager. This is part of HKI's job swap program and employee development initiative, enabling younger employees to work on larger, more complex projects. "HKI has involved many millennials in leadership roles in the field, in line with the company's mission to develop resilient and innovative human resources to enhance company value. We hope millennials will learn more and be better prepared for future large-scale projects with the knowledge they've gained," added Selo.
Currently, HKI is also working on several other Trans Sumatra Toll Road (JTTS) projects, such as the Indralaya-Prabumulih Toll Road, Padang-Sicincin Toll Road, and Pekanbaru-Bangkinang Toll Road. Additionally, for non-JTTS projects, HKI is working on the SMO Construction Services project in PHR Riau, the Callender Hamilton (CH) Bridge Replacement in Java, and the Probolinggo-Banyuwangi Toll Road Stage I Section II.
