Java Island is of strategic importance to the interests of the Netherlands, Herman Willem Daendels as Governor-General at the time, to wonder construct highway that divides the island of Java, with establishment of the main goals of this highway is useful for military mobilization for the defense of the British attack.
In 1808 began the construction of the highway began Anyer (the western tip of Java Island) until Panarukan (eastern tip of Java Island) along the 1000 KM, with his iron grip Daendels can build a highway that divides the island of Java in less than 1 year, the when it was recorded as the longest street in the world.
Such a long highway that can be built in a short time it was done in a way to force the native rulers to mobilize the people as workers, if it does not meet the specified targets the local ruler was killed and his head hung on the edge of the road, a result, the local authorities with very forced to mobilize its people to work hard without reward. Thus, many of those who are victims of hunger. In addition, malaria attacks also became the second killer other than hunger. According to British sources, 12,000 people recorded killed in the execution of the giant project
Daendels's Highway known as Highway Post, because the distance of 4.5 KM each built heading checkpoint and delivery of letter mail as an important liaison Dutch government.
Operated along the highway was built in 1809
dozens of large and small harbor. Starting as an international port of Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Tanjung Perak in Surabaya to traditional fishing fish landing port in Tuban and Panarukan. In addition, along the way there are thousands of factories Daendels also large, medium and small. Start heavy industries such as cement and fertilizer in Gresik, a steel plant in Cilegon and Lamongan to small shrimp industry in the Cross. Not forgetting also as a pathway for military mobilization in order to withstand attacks english then Daendels also set up a military education in Batavia, and a weapons factory in Semarang.
Victims of thousands of people were killed in the construction of this giant project, especially very clearly recorded in the history of highway development in the city of Prince Rocks Sumedang - West Java.
Until now Daendels highway remains the main route and the shortest path across the island of Java, and remain a strategic highway to the economic development of the people and various other interests