Cirebon Traffic Police Predict Peak Homebound Travel Rush on Toll Road on 17 March
CIREBON — The Traffic Unit (Satlantas) of Cirebon Police Headquarters (Polresta) has forecast that the peak of the Lebaran homebound rush on the Cipali toll road (Cikopo-Palimanan), which traverses Cirebon district in West Java, will begin on 17 March 2026.
Kasa Satlantas Polresta Cirebon City AKP Yudha Satyo Rahardjo stated in a briefing in Cirebon on Sunday that increased vehicle flow on the toll route is an early indicator of mass movement towards Central Java.
He noted that if vehicle volume reaches approximately 8,000 units and creates congestion, one-way traffic management measures may be implemented.
According to him, the one-way policy is the authority of the National Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri) through the Traffic Corps (Korlantas), which is then forwarded to the Traffic Directorate down to regional units.
“If congestion reaches approximately 8,000 vehicles, then one-way traffic can be applied,” he said.
He explained that implementing such a system would impact arterial routes in Cirebon, as vehicles heading from Central Java to Jakarta would be diverted out through the nearest toll gate.
This condition, he said, could potentially cause congestion on arterial routes, particularly between Weru and Susukan, which border Indramayu Regency.
To anticipate this, police have closed approximately 40 U-turn points on arterial routes since Friday (13 March) until Saturday (14 March).
“We have closed approximately 40 U-turn points to facilitate vehicle flow on the arterial route,” he said.
In addition, officers have prepared a vehicle diversion scheme towards the nearest toll gates to ensure more evenly distributed traffic flow.
He emphasised that vehicles would not be directed out through Ciperna Toll Gate, as this could potentially cause congestion in that area.
As an alternative, he continued, vehicles would be directed out through either Palimanan Toll Gate or Plumbon Toll Gate.
Meanwhile, Sustainability Management & Corporate Communications Department Head of Astra Tol Cipali Ardam Rafif Trisilo stated that increased vehicle flow on the toll route resumed on Sunday afternoon.
He noted that from 00:00 to 12:00 Western Indonesian Time, approximately 31,000 vehicles were recorded travelling from Cikopo towards Cirebon, an increase of 14.4 per cent compared to the same period the previous day.
In the opposite direction, he said, approximately 10,000 vehicles travelled from Cikopo towards Jakarta.
“Overall, traffic volume on the Cipali toll route currently increased by approximately 7.4 per cent compared to the same time the previous day,” he said.