One-way Policy Implemented Along Trans-Java Toll Road

Mobility during this year’s mudik (exodus) is expected to pick up on Tuesday (18/4/2023). To curb traffic congestion, one-way and contraflow traffic policies will be implemented starting 2 p.m. today.

FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Homecomers who took part in the Idul Fitri 2023 free mudik (homecoming, exodus) program by the Government of DKI Jakarta began arriving in the Monas area, Central Jakarta, Monday (17/4/2023). The Government of DKI Jakarta is holding a free mudik for Idul Fitri 2023. It is recorded that around 24,164 people took part in this free mudik program and departed by 482 buses.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – One-way and contraflow traffic policies will take effect along the trans-Java toll road starting this Tuesday (18/4) at 2 p.m. These policies will be implemented to curb traffic congestion as this year’s peak mudik traffic is expected to last until Thursday (20/4).

Travelers who made their homebound journeys earlier, from Friday to Sunday (16/4), resulted in heavy traffic along toll roads and at ferry ports either during iftar, after breaking the fast at around 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., or after the sahur pre-dawn meal at around 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Hence, National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo urged travelers to avoid these peak hours. “The public is advised to choose a travel time during the day to lessen the density of vehicles,” said Listyo.

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To curb traffic congestion along the trans-Java toll road, the contraflow policy will be implemented today from kilometer 47 of the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road to km 72 of the Cikopo-Cikampek toll road. A one-way policy will be implemented from km 72 to km 414 of the Kalikangkung tollgate in Central Java.

Today, these policies will take effect from 2 p.m. to midnight. On 19-21 April, these policies will take effect from 8 a.m. to midnight. However, these regulations are subject to change at any time given the traffic situation at the toll road section.

“Hopefully we won’t have to implement the odd-even license plate policy. So if everything goes well, we won’t have to implement that. That would be a last resort,” said National Traffic Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Shantyabudi.

FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

A number of police officers took part in the 2023 Ketupat Operation Call in the Monas area, Central Jakarta, Monday (17/4/2023). The National Police held a 2023 Ketupat Operation Call involving 148,261 joint personnel from related institutions. This operation was carried out in the context of securing mudik and Idul Fitri 2023 celebrations.

Regarding the implementation of traffic policies along the trans-Java toll road section, the Central Java Police will begin separating the lanes at 12 p.m. today. “We have retrained traffic operators on how to separate the lanes. We also carried out a tactical floor game,” said Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Ahmad Luthfi.

Arrangements have also been made in rest areas. Managers and service providers at rest areas have been advised to prepare food for takeaway. More portable toilets have been added as well, in order to cut down the visiting time at rest areas. Travelers will not be allowed to stay for more than 30 minutes.

We have retrained traffic operators on how to separate the lanes.

Accident-prone points

While on the trans-Java toll road, travelers must also be vigilant at nine accident-prone points. These points are located at km 64 and km 68 on the Jakarta-Merak toll road, km 48 and km 66 on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, km 78 and km 131 on the Cikopo-Palimanan toll road, km 552 and km 569 on the Solo-Ngawi toll road and km 639 on the Ngawi-Kertosono toll road.

Drivers are expected to be wise in determining resting periods. A four-hour maximum driving time is most ideal. After that, it is advisable to stop off in a nearby rest area. “I suggest bringing a backup driver but if you don’t have one, then make a stop. For professional drivers, it is usually four hours, but for ordinary drivers, try three hours before stopping to rest,” said Firman.

Meanwhile, 125 points along the arterial route have been mapped by the police as prone to security disturbances. Listyo instructed the police to increase patrols at these points and prepare alternative routes and traffic policies to prevent traffic jams.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Homecomers board a ship at Trisakti Harbor, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Tuesday (18/4/2023). From D-15 to D-4 Idul Fitri, 9,705 people have departed from Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin to Tanjung Perak Port, Surabaya, East Java. The number of ship passengers increased by 8.86 percent compared to the same period last year..

Early departures

Based on data from toll road operator PT Jasa Marga, from Friday to Sunday (14-16/4), 652,253 vehicles traveled from Greater Jakarta to a variety of destinations. In that same period, state-owned ferry operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry recorded 42,447 vehicles and 195,206 passengers crossing from Java to Sumatra via Merak Port in Banten.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that over the past three days, hundreds of thousands of travelers had begun their homebound journeys early. Even though the distribution of travelers at this initial stage was sufficient to dissipate traffic, the peak in mobility will still occur in the previously estimated period.

“Yes, in the last three days [the number of travelers] has been reduced thanks to earlier departures, but there are still four more days for mudik,” Budi said after the opening ceremony for Operation Ketupat 2023, a security measure for the Idul Fitri exodus, at Silang Monas Square in Jakarta on Monday (17/4).

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> ‘Mudik’ Congestion Expected in Cikampek Starting Sunday

> Encouraging the Use of Public Transportation

This year’s operation involves a joint team of 148,261 personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police, relevant ministries, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), state oil and gas firm Pertamina, PT Jasa Marga, PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry, the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), transportation agencies, health agencies, state-owned insurance firm Jasa Raharja, Pramuka (scouts) and other related parties. They will be stationed across 2,787 posts throughout the country.

Transportation observer Djoko Setikowarno said traffic jams are a part of mudik that cannot be avoided. What is important is that these jams are controlled so that travelers will arrive at their destinations safely, this includes good driver conditions and safe vehicles.

Djoko is of the opinion that traffic policies should focus more on arterial roads rather than toll roads. Before these toll roads were built, there were many volunteers, such as scouts, along arterial roads. However, they are rarely seen nowadays, even though they were helpful to officers with limited conditions. Thus, these volunteers should be remobilized. (Z02/Z04/Z05/Z06/Z14/XTI/WER/NCA/RTG)

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.