Dishub DKI warns new pelican crossing at Tendean JPO will slow traffic

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The head of Jakarta’s Transport Agency (Dishub DKI), Budi Awaluddin, has reminded road users that the presence of a pelican crossing facility in the Tendean pedestrian footbridge (JPO) area will slow traffic flows around the location.

He explained that the pelican crossing will be equipped with traffic lights for pedestrians, which will cause traffic to slow.

“Of course, there will certainly be a slowdown because people are crossing. The pelican crossing must also be fitted with red lights, because this is only an emergency solution. The most important thing is the construction of the footbridge,” Budi explained in Central Jakarta on Wednesday.

During the initial phase of operations, he said his office will station officers at the location so that road users can adapt to the presence of the pelican crossing.

“Our concern is that drivers may not yet be familiar with pelican crossings, and there will also be red lights,” Budi said.

Furthermore, he said the pelican crossing is only temporary. Once the new footbridge has been completed, the at-level crossing facility will be removed.

“Later, once the footbridge has been built, the pelican crossing will definitely be removed. There must not be any duplication. We want the public to use the bridge so that traffic flows more quickly,” Budi said.

The decision was taken based on the results of a meeting and technical study completed by the Jakarta Transport Agency.

According to data from the agency, traffic volume at the Tendean footbridge reaches 2,579 vehicles per hour, while the number of pedestrians crossing is 874 people per hour.

Currently, Budi said, there are three crossing points at the Tendean footbridge: the pelican crossing in front of Ayam Goreng Suharti, 383 metres away; the footbridge in front of the Bina Marga Toll Gate, 718 metres away; and a zebra crossing at the Gotri Junction U-turn, 364 metres away.

“Normally, ideally there should be a crossing facility every 100 to 200 metres. It turns out the distances here are far apart, so this crossing is really needed by the community,” Budi said.