Trans-Java Toll Road to Reach Banyuwangi, ASDP Boss Voices Concerns

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Recurring congestion on the Ketapang-Gilimanuk ferry crossing has again come under scrutiny. State-owned ferry operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) believes the problem could become even more severe as vehicle volumes increase and the toll road extends to Banyuwangi. The company claims the long queues are not solely an operational issue but also stem from limited port capacity and vehicle holding areas. “Both strategic ports, Ketapang and Gilimanuk, experience extraordinary congestion almost every year, whether during Christmas and New Year, Eid, or school holiday seasons,” said Heru Widodo during a hearing with House of Representatives Commission VI on Wednesday (24/6/2026). ASDP revealed that peak-period vehicle surges push existing capacity to near maximum. The situation is worsened by limited parking space and room for port expansion. “What worries us is when the toll road is eventually connected directly to Banyuwangi. Even without the toll road connection, the congestion is already severe, let alone when it is fully connected,” he stated. At the same time, ferry operators are also grappling with the impact of a ban on Landing Craft Tank (LCT) vessels carrying passengers, following a recent accident. “If LCTs are prohibited from operating, transport capacity will decrease further. Meanwhile, the largest vessels currently operating on the Ketapang-Gilimanuk route have a capacity of only around 2,000 GT, with the rest below 1,000 GT,” Heru added. Java Island will be connected by a toll road network from its western tip at the Sunda Strait to Banyuwangi in East Java. The government plans to accelerate two toll road projects: the Serang-Panimbang toll at the western end and the Probolinggo-Banyuwangi toll at the eastern end. Java is linked by the grand Trans-Java Toll Road project, stretching from Merak, Banten, to Banyuwangi. To date, around 20 toll road sections are operational, connecting Merak to Pasuruan over a length of 1,056.38 Km. Under the master plan, the network spanning from the western to eastern tip of Java will reach a total length of 1,232.78 Km. The Probolinggo-Banyuwangi toll road is now a legacy project passed from the Jokowi administration to the Prabowo administration. Current completion efforts are focused on Phase 1 construction of the Gending-Besuki section, spanning 49.7 Km, which is targeted for completion by 2026.