Functional and one-way toll roads prepared during peak Eid exodus traffic
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is preparing functional toll roads and one-way routes should congestion occur during the Eid al-Fitr exodus and return traffic in 2026.
The President Director of PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk, Rivan Achmad Purwantono, stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday that infrastructure and traffic engineering are ready to support smooth Eid al-Fitr exodus and return flows in 2026.
Jasa Marga manages a 1,294-kilometre toll road network that serves as the backbone of the national mudik traffic.
“We estimate 3.5 million vehicles will pass out of Jakarta,” said Rivan, according to received information.
Rivan explained that vehicle movement projections are monitored through a traffic technology system that enables more accurate density predictions, including the use of an intelligent transportation system platform or upgraded cameras for intelligent traffic analysis as well as radar.
“The estimates are not only accurate in terms of numbers but also predictions at every time interval,” he clarified.
According to Rivan, the peak mudik traffic is expected in mid-March, dominated by vehicles heading east or towards Trans-Java.
He noted two waves of mudik traffic, on 14 March and 18 March.
“Today (18 March) is estimated to reach 256,000 LHR (daily traffic). And last night it was proven at 221,000, which is the highest since 13 March,” he said.
Mudik travellers were observed at 50 per cent heading east, towards Trans-Java. To anticipate congestion from mudik vehicles, the government has also prepared several functional toll road sections that can be used during the exodus or return.
Among them is the Functional Jakarta-Cikampek 2 South Toll Road. This toll is mainly used during the return flow from Cipularang or from Bandung to Jakarta, spanning 50 kilometres from Sadang to Setu.
In addition, other functional toll road sections have been prepared in several areas of Central Java and Yogyakarta, such as the Functional Yogyakarta-Solo Toll Road or vice versa, covering about 11.48 kilometres.
“This time, the toll road section reaches the Yogyakarta area, specifically Purwomartani from Kalasan. This greatly helps people who are mudik,” he said.
The next functional toll road is the Yogyakarta-Bawen section in section 6, namely Bawen-Ambarawa, spanning about 5 kilometres. The existence of this toll allows people to proceed directly to Ambarawa without exiting the toll at Bawen.
Another functional toll road to be activated during the mudik and return is the Probolinggo-Besuki section, spanning about 50 kilometres. This section is expected to significantly shorten journeys.
“Because previously, they had to take a longer route,” he said.
Rivan also stated that traffic engineering in the form of contraflow and one-way will be implemented if vehicle congestion occurs during the Eid al-Fitr exodus and return.
“Yesterday afternoon, when congestion reached 30 per cent, together with the Ministry of Transportation and Korlantas, we decided on one-way. The one-way started from KM 70 (Jakarta-Cikampek Toll) to KM 263. At the start, with one-lane contraflow at kilometre 44, then two-lane contraflow at kilometre 55, and continued with one-way segments to KM 263,” he explained.
Rivan added that these traffic engineering measures have proven to speed up travel times for the public.
“Alhamdulillah, this smoothness can be felt by people departing from (Jakarta) at 4:00 PM WIB, arriving at 12:00 AM WIB in Kalikangkung (KM 414 in Semarang). So it’s 7 to 8 hours,” said Rivan.
Rivan emphasised that all toll roads managed by Jasa Marga, including from Merak to Jakarta, are ready for use to support smooth mudik traffic.
“However, there are still unavoidable potholes due to continuous use, but we will continue to repair them,” he concluded.