Cipali Toll Road Traffic Congested Towards Jakarta, Here's the Culprit

Traffic flow on the Cikopo-Palimanan (Cipali) toll road towards Jakarta was congested at several points due to vehicles stopping on the roadside, on Thursday (26/3).

Sustainability Management & Corporate Communications Dept. Head of Astra Tol Cipali, Ardam Rafif Trisilo, stated that cumulatively, the traffic volume today was monitored to be 27 percent lower compared to the previous day.

Based on data from 00:00 WIB to 08:00 WIB, approximately 21,000 vehicles had passed through the Cipali toll road segment via the former Cikopo Toll Gate towards Jakarta.

The number of vehicles passing was 31 percent lower compared to the same period the previous day, with an average volume of 2,700 vehicles per hour.

Meanwhile, from the opposite direction, from Jakarta towards Cirebon, 5,000 vehicles were recorded passing through the former Cikopo Toll Gate.

“Cumulatively, this morning’s traffic volume was monitored to be 27 percent lower than the previous day,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

Ardam stated that although the volume of vehicles passing through the Cipali toll road was lower than the previous day, density occurred at several points, causing traffic to slow down.

The main cause of the slowdown in the field was identified as the increasing number of vehicles stopping on the roadside, either due to engine problems or driver fatigue.

Physical fatigue of holiday travellers on long journeys from the east towards Jakarta caused many drivers to decide to rest on the roadside or at rest areas upon arriving at the Cipali toll road segment.

To maintain comfort and smooth traffic flow, Astra Tol Cipali, together with the regional police, implemented a situational open-close system at all rest areas on the Cipali toll road segment, covering KM 86, 102, 130, and 166 (towards Cirebon) as well as KM 164, 130, 101, and 77 (towards Jakarta).

Ardam advised that if rest areas are full, road users are urged not to stop on the roadside.