Severe Traffic Congestion on Palembang-Jambi Route Following Truck Axle Failure
The National Traffic Corps (Korlantas) of the National Police stated that serious traffic congestion on the trans-Sumatra route between Palembang and Jambi was caused by a truck accident.
Head of Korlantas Polri Inspector General Agus Suryonugroho said the truck experienced an axle fracture on the wheel, causing an extended traffic jam.
He stated that the Traffic Directorate of the relevant Regional Police has intervened to assist in handling the accident and clearing the congestion.
“The situation on the Palembang-Jambi route is similar because of the accident, which required a lengthy evacuation, causing deceleration. After the accident was evacuated, the truck axle broke, which is what caused the deceleration in Jambi,” Agus said at KM 57 A of the Japek Toll Road, Karawang, on Monday, 16 March, evening.
Agus explained that through traffic diversion, it is expected that congestion on the Palembang-Jambi route will quickly clear and conditions will return to normal.
On the other hand, he added that overall, the national traffic situation remains under control and there are no significant incidents in terms of traffic safety.
“This means that from the perspective of traffic safety and order, there are no notable incidents, no significant accidents,” he said.
The Traffic Directorate (Ditlantas) of Jambi Regional Police has diverted traffic flow from the eastern trans-Sumatra route in the Jambi-Palembang section to alternative routes, namely the western and central routes, to clear congestion on that route.
This traffic diversion is a follow-up to the direction of the Head of Korlantas Polri to maintain traffic safety, security, order, and fluency during the holiday exodus period.
The police have temporarily closed the Eastern Trans-Sumatra Route heading from Jambi to Palembang for homecoming vehicles and directed drivers to alternative routes that have been prepared.
Homecoming vehicles from Aceh, North Sumatra, and Riau heading to Palembang or Java are diverted through two route options.
The first option is through the Western Route connected to toll road access: Jambi - Sarolangun - Lubuk Linggau - Musi Rawas - Lahat - Prabumulih - Palembang. Upon arriving in Prabumulih, drivers can utilise the Prabumulih-Palembang Toll Road to reduce travel time to Palembang.
For drivers who choose the non-toll route, they can use the Central Route with the route Jambi - Sarolangun - Lubuk Linggau - Musi Rawas - Sekayu - Betung - Palembang.