Gading Serpong toll road exit opened

TANGERANG: The Gading Serpong extension on the Jakarta- Tangerang toll road was officially opened on Sunday morning by Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar.

"We hope that the new exit will reduce traffic congestion, which is a daily occurrence at the old Tangerang exit ramp and Jl. Raya Serpong," he said.

The Rp 20 billion (US$2.36 million) extension, the construction of which started in March and was completed on Sept. 30, was built jointly by Gading Serpong real estate developer PT Jakarta Baru Cosmopolitan and toll road operator PT Jasa Marga.

PT Jakarta Baru Cosmopolitan director Johanes Marzuki said that the extension had been planned since 1996 but the mid-1997 monetary crisis put construction on hold until this year.

The new extension and exit ramp will benefit commuters living in Serpong and Bintaro in that they will be able to avoid the long queues at the Tangerang exit ramp, particularly in morning and afternoon peak hours. -- JP