“what does it cost to build a road or a dirt access path in Bali? I am getting quoted 10k USD for a 2.5km dirt road in Lombok I get a feeling they are trying to fleece me”
In case my answer is of help to other aspiring road builders, here it is;
We paid about Rp140m for an access road as follows;
• External – 230 x 4m + 3 passing points of 15 x 3m
• Internal – 100 x 4m
• Total Length = 330m
• Total Surface Area = 1,455m²
• Cost per metre length = Rp9424,000
• Cost per m² = Rp96,000
This is for an interim surface in sirtu (compacted sand/small stones/soil).
We will apply a final surface of concrete and paving blocks after our villa is completed.
Most people should be able to get a road for less because there were a number of difficult factors in making my road;
1. There is quite a gradient which required a lot of cut & fill.
2. This, in turn, also required a lot retaining walls.
3. The external road is straight.
4. The internal road meanders
5. The price was fixed about a year ago and, I imagine, would be higher as at today
Your cost works out at Rp36,000 a metre. I don’t know what standard or specification you are building to so I cannot say if this high, low or OK.
One final thing.
We decided to have a proper contract in Indonesian & English with drawings etc attached.
That was Rp4m well spent
Our contractor, while charming and as accommodating as possible, also turned out to be more slippery than a barrel of fish.
We were able to use the contract to oblige him to rip up and redo those sections where he slyly instigated cost savings and changes to the agreed specification.
Having said that, he is probably no better or worse than any other Balinese contractor in this regard and I am using him on other projects (albeit with proper written safeguards in place).