Background: Why Road Prioritization Is a Pressing Issue
Provincial roads are the backbone of regional connectivity in East Java. They link cities, regencies, industrial zones, tourism destinations, and logistics corridors. With a provincial road network spanning more than 1,600 kilometers, East Java relies heavily on road infrastructure to sustain economic growth and reduce regional disparities.
In recent years, road conditions across the province have deteriorated. Official data from the East Java Public Works and Highways Agency show that the share of roads classified as “stable” fell from 89.61 percent in 2021 to 83.14 percent in 2024. One major reason was the reallocation of infrastructure budgets during the COVID-19 pandemic, when funds were diverted to health and social recovery programs. As a result, routine maintenance was delayed, allowing minor damage to worsen into more costly structural problems.
Budget constraints remain a constant challenge. Local governments cannot repair every damaged road at once. This makes priority setting essential. While the PKRMS system already records road conditions and recommends treatments, it focuses mainly on technical indicators. It does not fully capture strategic factors such as regional connectivity, policy priorities, or the role of roads in economic development. The study from Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya responds to this gap.
How the Research Was Conducted
The research examined all provincial road sections under the authority of UPT PJJ Malang, covering Malang Regency, Malang City, and Batu City. The team used a four-week case study approach, combining technical road data with expert judgment.
Two main data sources were used:
· Secondary data from the East Java Public Works and Highways Agency, including PKRMS road condition records, official road decrees, unit cost standards, and regional development plans.
· Primary data collected through questionnaires distributed to experienced officials and practitioners involved in provincial road management.
The researchers applied the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to weigh five key criteria that influence road priority decisions. Expert assessments were processed systematically to ensure logical consistency. The resulting weights were then integrated into the PKRMS application, allowing technical road condition data and strategic considerations to be analyzed together.
This combined approach produced both a priority ranking of road sections and a detailed estimate of maintenance costs based on standardized unit prices.
Key Findings
The analysis produced clear and actionable results for policymakers:
· Road condition emerged as the most influential factor, with a weight of 28.6 percent.
· Connectivity followed at 19.9 percent, reflecting the importance of linking economic and activity centers.
· Road service level accounted for 18.7 percent.
· Priority areas, such as strategic development zones, carried a weight of 18.3 percent.
· Policy alignment contributed 14.5 percent to the overall priority score.
Using these criteria, the study generated a ranked list of provincial road sections requiring attention within the UPT PJJ Malang area. This ranking helps decision-makers identify which roads should be handled first when budgets are limited.
In financial terms, the total estimated cost to address the prioritized provincial road sections reached IDR 357,814,927,151. Cost differences between road segments were driven by road length, severity of damage, and the type of maintenance required, ranging from routine works to major rehabilitation.
Implications for Policy and Real-World Decision-Making
The findings offer several important benefits for government agencies and the wider public:
· More transparent budgeting: Clear criteria and weights make it easier to explain why certain roads are prioritized over others.
· Better use of limited funds: By focusing on high-impact roads, governments can prevent minor damage from escalating into expensive reconstruction.
· Alignment with development goals: The inclusion of connectivity and priority areas ensures road spending supports economic growth, tourism, and regional integration.
· Replicable framework: The AHP–PKRMS model can be applied in other regions of East Java and across Indonesia.
According to Ervinda Riduan from Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, integrating expert judgment with technical road data allows governments to move beyond purely condition-based decisions. The approach helps road agencies balance engineering needs with policy objectives and regional development strategies.
Author Profile
Ervinda Riduan, M.Eng. Civil Engineering Researcher Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya Field of expertise: road infrastructure management, transportation planning, and multi-criteria decision analysis. Co-authors Hanie Teki Tjendani, M.Eng. and Budi Witjaksana, M.Eng. are lecturers and researchers in the Civil Engineering Master’s Program at Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, specializing in infrastructure systems, public works management, and applied transportation engineering.
Source
Article title: Analysis of Provincial Road Priorities and Costs in the Malang PJJ UPT Area Using the Analytical Data-Based Hierarchy Process Method of the Provincial/District Roads Management System
Journal: Formosa Journal of Science and Technology
Publication year: 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/fjst.v5i1.367
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