Solo, officially known as Surakarta, is widely recognized as a cultural and tourism city with strong Javanese traditions, arts, and historical heritage. At the same time, the city continues to develop modern infrastructure to improve mobility and make urban areas more accessible to residents and tourists.
The Joglo Underpass became one of the most significant infrastructure projects attracting public attention. Officially inaugurated on January 11, 2025, the underpass was developed to reduce traffic congestion in the northern part of Solo, improve connectivity between regions, and support the city’s transformation into a more modern and tourism-friendly destination. Before the project was completed, the Joglo intersection was known as one of the city’s major congestion points.
However, the project also generated debate. During the construction period, public discussions intensified on social media, particularly after a viral video showed water inundation around the underpass area in December 2024. The incident triggered questions about drainage, environmental impacts, and the effectiveness of the project.
The study by Aji and Pramudia shows how social media has transformed the way people respond to government development policies. Citizens are no longer passive recipients of official information. Through platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, they can share experiences, criticize problems, provide suggestions, and influence broader public narratives.
Direct Experience Drives Positive Public Perception
The researchers found that public perception of the Joglo Underpass was predominantly positive. The strongest reason was direct experience. After the underpass became operational, many residents experienced shorter travel times, smoother traffic flow, and better accessibility.
One respondent described the change simply: a journey that previously took around 15 minutes through the intersection could now be completed in only a few minutes. Online transportation drivers and office workers particularly highlighted improved mobility efficiency.
The benefits were not limited to transportation. Micro and small business owners around the area reported increased customer visits as accessibility improved. The underpass also created a new urban orientation point that increased the visibility of surrounding businesses.
The project contributed to time savings, lower operational costs, improved fuel efficiency, and more comfortable daily travel. Better connectivity also made it easier for people to reach schools, workplaces, public facilities, and other parts of the city.
Public Support Coexists with Technical Concerns
Although the overall perception was positive, the study also identified several concerns. Residents continued to raise questions about drainage systems, flooding, infrastructure maintenance, road safety, and the visual design of the underpass.
Some members of the public also felt that the project did not sufficiently reflect Solo’s cultural identity. The lack of cultural ornaments and visual elements representing the city’s Javanese character became one of the criticisms identified through the research.
The researchers found that public perception changed throughout the project’s development. Before construction, residents were optimistic about the potential to solve traffic problems but also worried about land acquisition and environmental impacts. During construction, perceptions became mixed as people dealt with traffic diversions, noise, and uncertainty about the project’s duration. After the underpass began operating, positive perceptions became dominant because residents could directly experience its benefits.
Five Factors Shape Public Opinion
The study identified five major factors influencing public perception of the Joglo Underpass:
- Direct experience, which emerged as the strongest factor in shaping positive perceptions.
- Information credibility and accessibility, particularly the clarity and transparency of government communication.
- Social interaction and community opinion, including conversations and discussions on social media.
- Cultural values and city identity, which influence whether infrastructure is perceived as compatible with Solo’s character.
- Government responsiveness, especially how quickly and clearly authorities respond to technical problems and public criticism.
The findings suggest that infrastructure projects can no longer be evaluated solely through technical indicators such as construction quality or traffic capacity. Public trust is also shaped by the quality of communication surrounding the project.
Digital Communication Becomes Part of Urban Governance
A key finding of the study is the communication gap between government institutions and the public. Official government channels generally emphasize technical information, project progress, and infrastructure achievements. Meanwhile, citizens tend to communicate through personal experiences, visual documentation, emotional reactions, and practical concerns.
Community-generated content, such as videos, photographs, and everyday accounts of traffic conditions, often feels more relatable to the public. As a result, social media has become an important arena where the meaning and success of an infrastructure project are debated.
For Haryo Kusumo Aji and Christian Andhika Pramudia, this means that digital communication should be treated as an essential part of urban development rather than merely a tool for disseminating announcements. Transparent and participatory communication can strengthen public trust, while slow responses to problems can damage confidence in a project.
The researchers recommend that local governments combine social media engagement with public information boards and face-to-face forums. They also emphasize the need for rapid-response communication mechanisms when technical issues or public concerns emerge.
Joglo Underpass Could Strengthen Solo’s Tourism Branding
The research also highlights the potential of the Joglo Underpass to support sustainable tourism. Improved accessibility can make it easier for visitors to reach destinations such as Pasar Gede, Keraton Kasunanan, Boyolali, and Karanganyar.
However, the researchers argue that the underpass has not yet been fully integrated into Solo’s tourism branding strategy. They suggest adding cultural visual elements such as batik-inspired ornaments and thematic lighting, utilizing user-generated content for digital promotion, and connecting the infrastructure with tourism routes and cultural events.
With the right approach, the Joglo Underpass could become more than a transportation facility. It could also serve as a visual landmark and part of the digital story of Solo as a modern city with a strong cultural identity.
The broader message from the study is clear: successful urban infrastructure requires more than concrete, roads, and engineering. It also requires public participation, transparent information, cultural sensitivity, and responsive government communication.
For Solo and other cities developing infrastructure to support tourism, the Joglo Underpass offers an important lesson. A project can improve mobility and stimulate economic activity, but its long-term legitimacy depends on whether citizens feel informed, heard, and included in the city’s transformation.
Author Profile
Haryo Kusumo Aji: Department of Communication Science, Universitas Slamet Riyadi Surakarta, Indonesia. His research focuses on communication, public perception, digital communication, infrastructure development, and the relationship between communication and sustainable tourism.
Christian Andhika Pramudia: Department of Communication Science, Universitas Slamet Riyadi Surakarta, Indonesia. His academic work focuses on communication studies and public communication in the context of urban and social development.
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