A long line of cars caught in a traffic jam on the Cikunir toll road in Bekasi, West Java, on Tuesday (6/6). Traffic jams create huge losses, from fuel costs to healthcare problems caused by air pollution.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Traffic congestion during the homebound exodus ahead of this year’s Idul Fitri will likely start in Jakarta and Bekasi, especially at the Simpang Susun Cikunir interchange, about several kilometers from Bekasi.
The meeting of traffic flows and the constriction of the roads are expected to trigger a severe traffic jam on the outer ring road and inner-city toll road in Jakarta.
According to Kompas’ observations on Friday, at the Simpang Susun Cikunir interchange, precisely on the road connecting the Jakarta Outer Ring Road (JORR) and the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road, vehicles have to slow down because of the constriction of the road. At JORR, only two lanes can be used on the road, which originally had four lanes.
When entering the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road, at the meeting of the traffic flows from the inner-city toll road, JORR in Pondok Indah, and JORR in Rorotann, the traffic is very dense. With only two lanes, the vehicles can only go 10-20 kilometers per hour.
In the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road section, the light rail construction project, the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung railway and the Jakarta-Cikampek II Toll Road have all caused constrictions to the road. The installation of zinc sheets to cover the construction work also caused road constrictions.
Heavy equipment is operated behind the bulkhead and some others are in the middle of the highway. Such a condition occurs at Cikunir up to 3 kilometers to Cikampek. Heavy equipment and smaller vehicles used for the road construction make the traffic even heavier. Motorists should also be careful because the distance between vehicles is very close.
This condition is expected to trigger congestion at the peak of the homebound exodus because the number of vehicles entering the area is predicted to reach 9,000 vehicles per hour.
The manager of Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Traffic Control System from Jasa Marga, Atika Dara, said the meeting of the traffic flows from three different directions had caused heavy congestion at the Cikunir intersection.
To reduce the congestion in Cikunir, the toll road operator will temporarily halt activities on the construction projects 10 days before Idul Fitri, which will take place on Sunday, June 25.
Jasa Marga will also assign a special team to manage traffic flows at the location of the congestion. If there is heavy congestion, small vehicles will be diverted toward Kalimalang, in accordance with police commands.
The head of the Toll Road Regulatory Agency, Herry Trisaputra Zuna, said the temporarily halt in the construction work was expected to smooth the flow of traffic.
The head of the Jakarta Police, Inspector General Mochamad Iriawan, said that to break the congestion in Cikunir, the police would assign officers with motorcycles.
The police can also apply a counter-flow lane in the path leading to Jakarta.
In addition to Cikunir, Iriawan said the rest areas at Kilometer (KM) 19, KM 34, and KM 39 also have also the potential to cause congestion because the entry of many vehicles into the rest areas will reduce the speed.
"To prevent congestion at the rest areas, police will impose an open and close system. The police will ask the rest area manager to close when the area is full," he said.
According to Iriawan, rest time at the rest areas will be limited to one hour. "In the rest areas, the police will ask travelers who have had enough rest to continue on their journey," he said.
Temporary toll roads
Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono confirmed that the Brebes-Gringsing Toll Road and four overpasses along Central Java\'s central route, which are currently under construction, would be temporarily opened up starting Sunday (18/6).
For that purpose, traffic signs are currently being installed. Work on road facilities is also being accelerated. "Work on road markings is currently underway at the Kretek Bridge. Some of the physical work has been completed. Both the toll road and overpass can be used seven days before Idul Fitri," said Basuki.
In Central Java, in addition to the Brebes-Gringsing Toll Road (110 kilometers), the Bawen-Salatiga Toll Road (17.6 kilometers) and the Solo-Ngawi Toll Road (65 kilometers) will also be opened up. Toll roads are free seven days before and seven days after Idul fitri (Lebaran).
In addition to the installation of road markings, officers are also accelerating the cleaning of gravel and dust from the toll roads.
Basuki said the Brebes-Gringsing toll would have a rest area that could accommodate 100 cars, toilets, prayer rooms, security posts, health posts, a temporary fuel station and mobile health services.
Beware of terrorists
In Palembang, National Police chief General Tito Karnavian said the police would also prepare for terrorist threats during the Idul Fitri homebound exodus and counter-exodus.
Operation Ramadniya 2017 will be held to prevent terrorist groups from carrying out attacks on these occasions.
Tito said that after the suicide bombing attack in Kampung Melayu, Jakarta, the police had arrested 31 people and uncovered plans for terror attacks in North Sumatra, Jambi, East Java, Central Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara.
In addition to anticipating terror threats, Tito has also ordered all field officers to catch begal (motorcycle thieves), pickpockets, robbers and other criminals.
