Surge in Homecoming Traffic Leads to Implementation of Local One-Way System from Kalikangkung to Bawen

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SEMARANG — The surge in vehicles at the Kalikangkung Toll Gate has exceeded 3,000 units per hour. Police have immediately implemented a local one-way traffic engineering system up to the Bawen Interchange. The Central Java Police Traffic Directorate has enforced a one-way system from KM 414 to KM 442 on Wednesday (18/3/2026). This step was taken to ease the significant increase in homecoming traffic density. Kalikangkung Police Station Chief AKP Dimas stated that the national one-way system was first applied on the Trans Java Toll from Cikampek Utama GT KM 70 to Kalikangkung GT KM 414. “At 16:45 WIB, the one-way was extended, namely the local one-way from Kalikangkung KM 414 extended to the Bawen Interchange at KM 442,” Dimas said. Dimas explained that the local one-way policy was triggered by the surge in vehicle volume passing through the Kalikangkung GT. In the latest records, the vehicle flow once reached 4,200 units per hour. “Because the current hourly vehicle flow last reached around 4,200 per hour, and the average per hour is over 3,000, this becomes the indicator for implementing the one-way,” Dimas said. Based on data, from 06:00 to 17:00 WIB, 36,372 vehicles have passed towards Semarang and Solo. This condition shows a significant increase compared to normal days. Dimas said the duration of the local one-way implementation is still situational and depends on field conditions. “Regarding how long it will last, we are monitoring the situation and awaiting further instructions, as it is situational, depending on the field conditions,” Dimas said. Although vehicle volume has increased, the operators ensure that queues at the toll gate transactions are still manageable. Currently, 21 booths are operated to serve the vehicle flow. “Currently, the main gate has 12 booths open, plus nine satellite or additional booths. So total around 21 booths,” Dimas said.