The announcement of a complete closure of the Gumitir route starting July 24, 2025, has sparked reactions from Banyuwangi’s Regent, Ipuk Fiestiandani. This strategic road connecting Banyuwangi and Jember will be closed for two months due to a road and bridge preservation project. However, Ipuk is urging a reconsideration of this policy, as it is expected to have significant impacts, particularly on the economy and education sectors. “We are not opposed, but we hope for a review, as a total closure will have a profound effect on both the economy and community activities,” Ipuk stated after a plenary meeting at the Banyuwangi Regional House of Representatives on June 30, 2025.
Ipuk emphasized that the Gumitir route is a primary connector between Banyuwangi and Jember. The closure will not only affect economic activities and community mobility but will also disrupt the education sector. “For instance, many students from Silo, Jember, attend SMK Negeri Kalibaru. They will be directly impacted,” she asserted.
In light of this, Ipuk is requesting a review of the total closure, suggesting a system of alternating access that prioritizes smaller vehicles and motorcycles. Larger vehicles could be redirected to alternative routes, such as through Situbondo. “For example, while larger trucks may be restricted, motorcycles should still be allowed to operate. We are in ongoing discussions and coordination, and we hope our proposals can be accommodated,” she expressed.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Banyuwangi Transportation Agency, Komang Sudira Atmaja, added that the closure of this primary route will be further discussed in meetings with various stakeholders, indicating that the total closure of Gumitir is still tentative. “The information we have received suggests that the closure is for safety reasons, as the project involves heavy machinery. However, this will be discussed further with the Traffic Police and other parties,” Komang noted.
The Banyuwangi government has also deliberated on the news of the Gumitir route closure and is generally opposed to a total shutdown. They hope the route can remain accessible through an alternating system, as a complete closure could potentially trigger inflation in areas such as Banyuwangi, Jember, and even Bali. “The cost of transportation would increase significantly, as longer routes would need to be taken. This is something we aim to communicate for consideration,” he explained.
One of the potential impacts includes the transportation of fuel from Banyuwangi to Jember and surrounding areas. An alternative route through Bondowoso has a bridge that cannot accommodate fuel tankers due to its weight limit of 15 tons, while tankers exceed this limit. “Our colleagues at Pertamina have raised concerns about this. The tankers cannot cross the bridge in Bondowoso, and if they need to reach Jember, they would have to go through Probolinggo, which is a longer route and could contribute to inflation,” he elaborated.
The Gumitir route, which connects Banyuwangi and Jember, will be completely closed from both directions for two full months due to the preservation project. During this closure, traffic will be redirected through alternative routes via Jember-Bondowoso-Situbondo-Banyuwangi or vice versa.
Satiya from the East Java-Bali National Road Implementation Center (BBPJN) explained that the improvements to the Gumitir route are being undertaken for safety reasons. The Gumitir route is known for its hazardous conditions, with a high rate of accidents due to its winding and descending elevation, particularly affecting heavy vehicles. “Therefore, repairs are necessary. The preservation project for roads and bridges in 2025 includes addressing landslides by reinforcing the lower slopes with bored pile construction at 55 points along 115 meters, as well as improving road geometry for user safety,” Satiya stated.
According to the plan, the repairs are set to take place from July to December 2025. During this period, the route will be completely closed, as the road width will not allow for the passage of either two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles. However, the closure is expected to last only two months, from July 24, 2025, to September 24, 2025. “This work poses a very high risk to road users, especially during the pile driving phase and the placement and maneuvering of the bore pile machine, as the road width is insufficient for partial operation. Additionally, the weather in Jember, particularly along the Gumitir route, often experiences rain, increasing the risk of landslides,” Satiya concluded.
