2026 Lebaran Exodus Peak Predicted to Occur Twice, Japek-Cipali Toll Road Engineering Tightened

The peak exodus during Lebaran 2026 (1447 Hijriah) is predicted to occur in two major waves. This phenomenon of two peak periods is driven by the flexibility of working hours and extended joint leave arrangements, resulting in differing travel patterns among the public.

The peaks are predicted to occur on 14–15 March 2026 and 18–19 March 2026.

Based on a tri-ministerial decree (SKB 3 Menteri), the official schedule for implementing one-way systems, odd-even restrictions, and contraflow operations on major exodus routes is as follows:

A one-way system will be applied from KM 70 Jakarta-Cikampek Toll to KM 421 Semarang-Solo Toll, implemented to limit vehicle volume on major toll sections using electronic toll detection (ETLE) monitoring. The system will be deployed situationally on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll. Vehicles from the Cisumdawu Toll heading towards Jakarta during the one-way period will be diverted through Cimalaka Toll Gate (GT) or Cisumdawu Jaya GT.

Police have prioritised KM 66 on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll, which is a convergence point for vehicles heading towards Trans Jawa and the Cipularang (Bandung) route from Jakarta. Jasa Marga predicts approximately 3.5 million vehicles will depart Jakarta, with 50 per cent heading eastbound (towards Trans Jawa and Bandung) during the 2026 Lebaran exodus season.

The government has also urged travellers to utilise the planned Work From Anywhere (WFA) policy applying on 16–17 March to avoid becoming trapped in the second wave congestion.

The public is advised to continuously monitor weather conditions through the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), given the potential for moderate to heavy rainfall in West Java and Central Java regions during the first peak exodus period.

The Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas Polri) has officially implemented a one-way scheme from KM 70 Japek to KM 421 Semarang starting 17 March 2026 to alleviate the surge in vehicles.

According to a survey by the Ministry of Transport, the number of exodus arrivals in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) during this Lebaran is estimated to reach approximately 8.2 million people.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi estimated that the peak congestion of the 1447 Hijriah/2026 Lebaran exodus will occur on 16 March and 18 March 2026.

The Central Java Police have identified congestion points on the Pejagan-Semarang and Semarang-Solo Tolls during the 2026 exodus, whilst West Java Police have deployed 26,692 combined personnel for the 2026 Ketupat Lodaya Operation to secure the exodus and return traffic in West Java.