The study was conducted by Fajar Ilman Tama, Ony Frengky Rumihin, and Iswandaru Widyatmoko from the Master of Civil Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, Indonesia. Published in the Formosa Journal of Science and Technology (FJST), the research examined how provincial road maintenance priorities in Gresik Regency, East Java can be improved through the integration of the Provincial/District Road Management System (PKRMS) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP).
The findings matter because regional governments continue to face increasing infrastructure demands while operating under limited public budgets. The study suggests that better prioritization methods could improve road performance, strengthen economic connectivity, and make infrastructure spending more accountable.
Why Road Prioritization Has Become More Important
East Java has one of Indonesia’s most active transportation corridors, supported by dense population movement and strong industrial activity. Gresik Regency plays a particularly strategic role because it connects metropolitan Surabaya with industrial zones, logistics routes, and residential development areas.
Although provincial road stability in East Java has reached relatively high levels, damaged road segments continue to appear every year. Road deterioration, capacity limitations, and increasing traffic volumes create difficult decisions for policymakers responsible for maintenance planning.
Traditional approaches often rely heavily on budget availability or visible road damage. However, those indicators do not always reflect which road sections create the greatest transportation risk or economic impact.
The research introduces a broader approach that combines technical condition data with strategic decision criteria.
How the Study Evaluated Road Priorities
The research analyzed three provincial road sections in Gresik Regency:
- Surabaya City – Driyorejo – Legundi
- Legundi – Mojokerto Regency
- Petiyin – Karangcangkring
The researchers used PKRMS, a road management platform developed by Indonesia’s Ministry of Public Works and Housing, as the primary source of infrastructure data. The system provides information about road conditions, traffic volume, maintenance requirements, and network performance.
To strengthen prioritization decisions, the study integrated Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a structured evaluation method that compares multiple factors simultaneously.
Instead of focusing only on repair costs, the analysis incorporated several considerations, including:
- physical road condition,
- traffic intensity,
- network connectivity,
- regional development importance,
- and transportation service performance.
This combined approach created a more balanced assessment of where maintenance resources should be allocated.
Key Findings: Highest Cost Does Not Mean Highest Priority
The study produced one of its most important conclusions: technical urgency and financial burden are not always aligned.
Based on the Technical Priority Index (TPI) generated through PKRMS, the provincial road priorities in Gresik were ranked as follows:
Petiyin – Karangcangkring TPI: 83.7
Surabaya City – Driyorejo – Legundi TPI: 76.2
Legundi – Mojokerto Regency TPI: 24.5
However, maintenance cost estimates showed a different picture.
The Surabaya–Driyorejo–Legundi section required the largest projected maintenance budget at approximately IDR 77.4 billion, making it the most financially demanding corridor.
Meanwhile, Petiyin–Karangcangkring, despite requiring lower spending, emerged as the most technically urgent road segment.
The study also identified substantial capacity constraints.
Road widening requirements reached:
11.368 km on Surabaya–Driyorejo–Legundi
9.711 km on Legundi–Mojokerto
In total, 21.079 km of widening was recommended across the analyzed network.
These results indicate that some roads need more than surface repair they require capacity improvements to handle existing traffic pressure.
Implications for Infrastructure Policy and Industry
The findings offer practical guidance for provincial governments seeking more efficient infrastructure planning.
By integrating PKRMS with AHP, decision-making can become:
- more transparent,
- more data-driven,
- more accountable,
- and better aligned with actual public needs.
For industrial operators and logistics businesses in Gresik, especially those dependent on sections 110 and 111 for freight movement, the results highlight the importance of vehicle load compliance and coordinated infrastructure management.
The researchers also suggest that future development of the model could include additional indicators such as accident rates, flood risk, regional economic impact, service quality levels, and heavy vehicle loads.
As emphasized by Fajar Ilman Tama and colleagues from Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, road handling strategies should not be determined solely by repair costs. Technical priority, traffic demand, connectivity, and regional function must be evaluated together to produce more effective infrastructure decisions.
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