Route change causes traffic jam

JAKARTA (JP): Officials took on one of the city's traffic problem areas on Thursday to poor results, with cars backed up from Jl. Asia Afrika to Jl. Hang Tuah in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Private vehicles on Jl. Asia Afrika came to a complete halt when vehicles coming from Gate IX on Jl. Sudirman were forced to take Jl. Hang Tuah to reach Jl. Asia Afrika, instead of making their normal right turn.

The City Land Transportation and Traffic Control Agency (DLLAJ) had come to the conclusion that traffic was always heavy on Jl. Asia Afrika, particularly the route from Jl. Asia Afrika to Jl. Hang Tuah. With this in mind, the chief of the DLLAJ, Buyung Atang, announced on Wednesday that to ease the traffic the agency had decided to make some route changes.

"Beginning on Thursday, traffic coming from Gate IX of Jl. Sudirman heading to Jl. Asia Afrika will not be allowed to make a right turn," Buyung said on Wednesday.

"All private vehicles must instead take Jl. Hang Tuah, Jl. Pakubuwono VI, Jl. Hang Lekir or just go straight and take Gate I of Senayan."

Buses, which often take Gate IX of Jl. Sudirman to reach Jl. Asia Afrika, were rerouted to Gate I of Senayan to reach Jl. Asia Afrika.

Vehicles trying to reach Jl. Asia Afrika via Gate I of Senayan were not the big problem on Thursday. Rather it was private vehicles rerouted from Gate IX of Senayan to Jl. Hang Tuah.

In addition to these changes, vehicles on Jl. Hang Lekir may no longer proceed directly to Jl. Sudirman through Gate IX. They now must turn left on Jl. Asia Africa and then make a U-turn in front of Plaza Senayan to reach Jl. Sudirman.

Alternatively, they can turn right onto Jl. Hang Tuah, then left onto Jl. Pakubuwono VI, left onto Jl. Sisingamangaraja and then turn onto Jl. Sudirman. (ylt)