<![CDATA[Infrastructure is a key driver of regional development, yet its long-term benefits depend on sustainable planning and governance. The Semarang–Demak toll road, a 27-kilometer coastal corridor completed between 2019 and 2025, presents a critical case study as it traverses areas highly vulnerable to land subsidence, flooding, and erosion. Numerous studies have examined the engineering and hydrodynamic aspects of coastal infrastructure in northern Java. However, limited attention has been given to how affected coastal communities perceive environmental change, governance transparency, and their participation in infrastructure decision-making processes. This study examines the project’s environmental dynamics and social dimensions by combining a review of scholarly literature, books, and technical reports with an explanatory quantitative survey of affected residents in Semarang and Demak. The results indicate that most respondents recognize severe degradation of their coastal environment, including land loss and heightened exposure to tidal flooding. However, awareness of government policies and programs related to coastal management remains low, with 31.8% of respondents falling into the "limited policy awareness" category. This limited policy knowledge reflects broader environmental governance weaknesses, particularly transparency and communication. Furthermore, community participation in decision-making processes remains limited (56.8%), indicating that many residents feel excluded from the planning and implementation of infrastructure projects that directly affect their livelihoods. Despite this limited engagement, community perceptions reveal a strong ecological awareness shaped by direct experience with coastal hazards. The contrast between high environmental awareness and low policy involvement signals a growing risk of social resistance to coastal infrastructure if participatory mechanisms are not improved. Therefore, strengthening communication, transparency, and inclusive governance is essential to align infrastructure development with community resilience and long-term sustainability.]]>
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