Travellers Enjoy New Experience Crossing the Southern Japek Toll Road

Bekasi (ANTARA) - Several travellers have expressed enjoyment of a new experience while traversing the Southern Jakarta-Cikampek (Japek) Toll Road section, which has been opened functionally to serve the 2026 Lebaran return flow from Cipularang through the Sadang entry access to the capital’s supporting regions. Heldi (43), a traveller from Bandung heading back to Cinere, Depok City, admitted to being surprised yet delighted upon discovering the functional toll road as an alternative to the existing Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road section. “Initially, I didn’t know the functional toll was already open. When I saw the directional signs at Sadang, I immediately tried entering,” said Heldi, met at the temporary rest area at Km18 of the Southern Japek Toll Road, Sukasasari Village, Serang Baru Subdistrict, Bekasi Regency, on Thursday. According to Heldi, based on the navigation app used, the travel time to his home is now about one hour shorter compared to the old route. “If going through the old Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road, it usually takes longer, but now it’s shorter; I’ve already reached Bekasi,” he said. Adi (50), a traveller from South Tangerang, admitted to taking the return journey from West Bandung Regency via the Southern Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road section because he wanted to experience the sensation of the typical verdant West Java hillside scenery. Adi stated that the panorama of green hills filled with trees along the route from Purwakarta to Bekasi Regency is far from the hustle and bustle of polluted industrial areas. “The scenery is beautiful, sir; there are also quite high bridge structures with views of valleys and residential areas. That’s why I took this route; besides, it’s closer to home. From here, I’ll enter the toll again via the Cimanggis-Cibitung Toll Road, crossing the JORR II Toll before reaching Serpong,” he said. Meanwhile, the President Director of PT Jasamarga Japek Selatan, Charles Lendra, stated that the functional scheme is focused on drivers coming from the Cipularang Toll direction, hoping to divert some vehicle flow while minimising congestion at the intersection points of the existing toll. This functionally opened Southern Japek Toll Road can be enjoyed for free during this year’s return flow. Transactions are only made at the Sadang Toll Gate (GT) for Cipularang Toll payments, while the rest up to Setu is not charged. He explained that the functional access for this year’s return flow has a longer reach compared to the 2025 mudik period. The route that travellers can now traverse spans 52 kilometres from the Sadang GT on the Cipularang section to the Setu Subdistrict area in Bekasi Regency. There are three other toll gates that can serve as alternative exits from the Southern Japek Toll Road before Setu, namely the Kutanagara GT in Karawang as well as the Bojongmangu GT and Sukaragam GT in Bekasi Regency. “With the opening of this toll road, travellers now have a faster and more comfortable travel option, especially for those heading to the Bekasi, Bogor, Depok, and Tangerang areas,” he said.