Traffic Congestion in East Jakarta

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

A motorcyclist avoids potholes and cracks on Jl. Raya Kalimalang on Feb. 18, 2019 in Jati Bening, Pondok Gede, Bekasi. Ongoing construction has damaged large sections of the road, causing daily congestion for commuters.

Local residents have sacrificed much during the construction of a road connecting Jakarta and Bekasi, suffering traffic jams for several years.

The safety of road users is also under threat. Jamaludin, 23, still remembers when his motorcycle slipped on Jl. Raya Kalimalang-Jl. KH Noer Ali three years ago because of a hole in the road. He tumbled before coming to rest on the road. The student of Gunadarma University-Bekasi broke his arm in the accident and was unable to move for several weeks.

"At that time, I did not see the potholes because it was dark, there was no street lighting," Jamaludin told Kompas on Friday on Jl. Raya Kalimalang.

At that time, potholes were everywhere because construction on the Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu toll road (Becakayu) had just begun. Heavy equipment carried building materials, while the ground was excavated to make a foundation.

In 2015, construction on the Becakayu toll road resumed after 16 years. The toll road stretches about 21 kilometers from Kasablanka in South Jakarta to Duren Jaya in Bekasi (Kompas, 1/7/2015).

Some sections of the road are finished. The 8.2-kilometer sections 1B and 1C of the Becakayu toll road connecting Cawang in East Jakarta and Jaka Sampurna in Bekasi have been open since 2017. Although the construction work runs 24 hours, the toll road is still not finished, and has disrupted traffic. The toll road project has worsened traffic along Jl. Raya Kalimalang. Potholes ranging from 50 centimeters to 2 meters wide are everywhere.

However, the poor condition of the road does not deter motorists like Jamaludin, who lives in Cipinang, East Jakarta, and Jl. Raya Kalimalang is his direct route to campus.

Congestion

For Eka, 25, a bakso (meatball) and tofu supplier who lives in Jatiwaringin, Bekasi municipality, the congestion has extended his travel time and hurt his business. He delivers bakso and fresh tofu every day to several restaurants in Bekasi’s Metropolitan Mall. The 10 km trip should take 15-20 minutes. "Because of the congestion, the trip often takes more than an hour," said Eka.

Aside from traffic jams, he also faces an increased risk of road accidents. His motorcycle often bumps or is bumped by other vehicles because of the food basket he lashes to the rear saddle. "The most dangerous thing for me is avoiding the potholes. The vehicles behind me can fall into them because they don’t see the hole," said Eka.

Three projects

Traffic head Bambang N. Putra of the Bekasi municipal transportation agency said congestion was unavoidable on Jl. Raya Kalimalang. Congestion occurred not only because the road is damaged, but also because of the influx of vehicles from the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, where three transportation projects are still under construction: The Jakarta-Cikampek II flyover, the Jabodebek light rail (LRT), and the Jakarta-Bandung express train.

As a result, an average of 110 cars and 730 motorcycles pass Jl. Raya Kalimalang from Jakarta to Bekasi from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. every day. The route from Bekasi to Jakarta sees 183 cars and 1,107 motorcycles during the same period.

Becakayu toll road project deputy chief Deden Suharyana of PT Kresna Kusuma Dyandra Marga said Jl. Raya Kalimalang would continue to be congested for at least six more months.

Twenty-four concrete pillars still needed to be erected on the road. Workers and heavy equipment would continue to work around the clock.

Irony

Johanes Randy, 28, from Jatiasih, Bekasi, said that traffic on Jl. Raya Kalimalang was different from Becakayu toll road. Motorists on Kalimalang struggled with road damage, congestion and the changes in the flow of traffic.

"Driving on Jl. Raya Kalimalang is exhausting. In addition to congestion, the road narrows in some parts. Due the change in direction, I have pass through [Grand Galaxy Park] before heading to Jatiasih via Jl. Raya Caman," said Randy.

Motorists not accustomed to using the road are sure to find it confusing. The installation of concrete pillars has changed the course of the road from straight to winding when traveling to and from Jakarta. At night, street lighting is only available around Metropolitan Mall and the tunnel of the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road.

Based on Kompas’ observation, not many motorists appear to use the toll road, possibly because the toll for covering such a short distance is expensive. Private cars must pay an exorbitant toll of Rp 14,000 to use the Becakayu toll road. It is no wonder that Becakayu has not been the preferred route among motorists since it opened in 2017. Ironically, the toll road is free of congestion and has good lighting.

Motorists on Jl. Raya Kalimalang continue to suffer because of a lack of planning in the development project. If it were planned better, it could be an entirely different story.