Impact of One-Way System on Cipali Toll Road: Pantura Route in Subang Congested Tonight
As the nation enters four days before Eid 2026, vehicle traffic on the Pantura (North Coast) route in Pamanukan, Subang Regency, West Java, was notably congested on Tuesday evening, 17 March. The increase in vehicle volume stems from the implementation of a one-way system on the Cikopo-Palimanan (Cipali) toll road during the 2026 Eid exodus period.
Field observations at 19:00 West Indonesia Time showed traffic congestion in the Pamanukan area was predominantly comprised of returning holidaymakers on motorcycles, private cars, and buses travelling from Jakarta towards Cirebon. Many motorcycle riders carried large amounts of luggage secured at the rear of their vehicles, whilst private cars appeared laden with cargo on their roofs.
Meanwhile, traffic flowing from Cirebon towards Jakarta also experienced significant increases. Large buses and trucks dominated the arterial roads due to traffic diversion from toll routes. Despite the surge in volume, traffic flow in Pamanukan remained fluid with congestion, though peak-hour traffic was predicted to continue increasing throughout the evening.
One-way traffic management by police remains in effect. The situation on the Cipali toll stretch, particularly at kilometre 102 near the rest area in Kalijati, Subang, showed heavy traffic on both lanes—both the normal route and the one-way lane implemented from kilometre 70 to 263.
Rudi, a holidaymaker from Tangerang heading to Bojonegoro, East Java, identified the primary congestion point as the Jakarta-Bekasi Inner City Toll and the exit from the MBZ toll route. “We left at half past four in the afternoon, and by 7 pm we’ve only reached Subang. Normally it takes 10 hours, but now it’s impossible to predict. There was congestion earlier from the MBZ exit at kilometre 48 to kilometre 62,” said Rudi.
Rudi explained he departed immediately after collecting his wife and child from work. “It happened to be the last day of work, so we left right away. We took the left lane because we didn’t know there was a one-way system on the right lane,” he added.
The 2026 Eid exodus is predicted to peak on 18-19 March as national holiday periods commence. Travellers are advised to ensure sufficient e-toll balance and maintain good physical condition.
Police have prepared a national-scale traffic management scheme for the one-way Cipali toll system should vehicle ratios exceed road capacity limits to prevent total gridlock on main exodus routes. Travellers from Jambi and Palembang via Bayung Lencir have been diverted to the Central Cross route (Sarolangun-Lubuk Linggau) from 16 March 2026.
The National Traffic Police (Kakorlantas Polri) implemented the one-way system from kilometres 70-263 on the Trans-Java toll road beginning at 15:00 West Indonesia Time on 17 March. From Monday 16 March, 00:00 to 12:00 West Indonesia Time, approximately 25,000 vehicles traversed the Cikopo toll heading towards Cirebon, which was lower than the same period on Sunday 15 March.
This figure represented an increase of approximately 11.3 per cent compared to traffic volume during the same period the previous day. A tour bus with registration number AA 7521 OF from Cirebon heading towards Jakarta caught fire at kilometre 95 B of the Cipali toll around 16:50 on Sunday 15 March. There were no fatalities from the incident. Based on information gathered on Sunday 15 March, traffic flow on the Cikopo-Palimanan toll route heading towards Cirebon was monitored as heavy but flowing smoothly.