Traffic Jam at Poto Tano Port in Sumbawa, Residents Queue for Hours

Long queues of vehicles formed at Poto Tano Port in West Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, on Saturday (4/7/2026). State-owned ferry operator ASDP stated that the congestion of vehicles heading to Kayangan Port in East Lombok only occurs on weekends.

“Since this morning, long queues and severe congestion have occurred on the access road to Poto Tano Port,” complained Hendrawan (45), a motorist from Bima City who was trying to cross to Kayangan, on Saturday afternoon. Hendrawan said the queue and vehicle backlog was dominated by private cars, passenger buses, small to large trucks, and motorcycles. “On average, the vehicles queuing are motorcycles, private cars, and trucks,” he said.

He stated that the situation forced him to wait for hours. Previously, he could board the ferry shortly after arriving at the port. “I was stuck in the queue for almost two hours. It used to be good, queue briefly and then immediately board the ship and cross to Kayangan,” he claimed.

Separately, General Manager of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry Kayangan Branch, Erlisetya Wahyudi, acknowledged that vehicle traffic at Poto Tano Port was busy. However, he said the situation was still manageable. “It is indeed busy and still under control,” he said.

Erlisetya emphasised that the vehicle queue, especially for trucks, was deliberately managed to ease weekend crossing density, as passenger vehicles are prioritised. “Conditions like this only occur on weekends, because passenger vehicles are given priority to cross,” he stressed. He added that vehicle density was also influenced by crossing traffic between vehicles entering and exiting the ferry port, causing a buildup of vehicles.