BALINEWSID.COM, TABANAN — After nearly six decades of waiting, residents of Sangketan Village, Penebel District, Tabanan Regency, are finally seeing the construction of a vital road connecting two local communities.

The approximately 1.26- to 1.6-kilometer road, with a planned width of around five meters, will connect Banjar Dinas and Banjar Adat Munduk Dawa with Banjar Adat Puring.

The road opening began on Saturday, September 12, 2026, through a community-led mutual cooperation initiative supported by cadres of the Bali Democratic Party.

The new access is expected to improve residents’ mobility, facilitate access to public services and reduce logistical costs for transporting agricultural products.

Bali Democratic Party Chairman Made Mudarta said the road opening marked a historic moment for residents who had waited for almost 60 years for a proper connection between the communities.

“People here have dreamed of having this road for almost 60 years. Only today has it finally become possible,” Mudarta said.

According to Mudarta, the project could proceed after landowners agreed to voluntarily allocate portions of their land for the public road. Bali Democratic Party cadres then provided support through mutual cooperation and contributions from party members.

“This is purely a mutual cooperation effort. Democratic Party cadres across Bali have contributed,” he said.

Heavy equipment has begun opening the road alignment. The next stages will involve laying limestone and compacting the road surface. Mudarta said the work is targeted for completion within approximately one month.

He said the road would have a direct impact on residents’ economic activities, particularly farmers who have long faced difficulties transporting their agricultural produce.

“Logistics for transporting harvests such as salak, cocoa, coconuts and bananas will become easier. Transportation costs will be lower, allowing people’s incomes to increase,” he said.

The road is also expected to improve access to schools, community health centers, hospitals and integrated health posts, locally known as posyandu.

For the final stage, Mudarta said the construction method—whether the road would be asphalted or concreted—would be discussed with the local community.

The Bali Democratic Party, he added, was prepared to continue providing assistance and monitoring the project until the road becomes fully operational.

“We will help, oversee and provide assistance until the road is completed. The Democratic Party does not work halfway; we are committed to seeing it through,” Mudarta said.

Meanwhile, Sangketan Village Head I Nyoman Sugiarta expressed his appreciation to residents who had voluntarily released portions of their land for the road project.

He said the community’s willingness to provide land was a crucial factor in opening an access route that had long been an urgent need for residents.

“Those who own the land have sincerely and voluntarily released it to be used as a road access, which will certainly benefit all of us and future generations,” Sugiarta said.

Sugiarta said infrastructure development remained one of the main priorities for Sangketan Village residents. Several proposals for road construction and improvements have also been submitted through the government’s development planning forum, or Musrenbang, as well as other regional planning mechanisms.

He expressed hope that attention to infrastructure would not stop at the newly opened road. Other access routes, including roads under the authority of the Tabanan regency government, still require improvement.

“Once again, our top priority is infrastructure access to meet the needs of our community here,” he said.

With the opening of the road now underway, residents have renewed hope after nearly six decades of waiting for proper connectivity. The Bali Democratic Party has pledged to continue monitoring and supporting the project until the road is completed and can be fully utilized by the community.