Truck Drivers Attribute Severe Congestion at Tanjung Priok Port to Traffic Engineering, Not Port Activity Surge

Jakarta — Truck drivers and port workers stated that severe congestion around Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta on Friday afternoon (13 March 2026) was not caused by a surge in cargo handling activity at the port.

According to them, the congestion was triggered by several factors on the roads, ranging from traffic accidents to changes in traffic engineering around the port area.

One truck driver named Nuratmo (45) said the congestion was caused by a trailer truck accident on Cakung Cilincing Raya.

Besides the accident, Nuratmo noted that the closure of several toll gates also worsened traffic congestion. The closures were implemented due to restrictions on heavy vehicle operating hours ahead of Lebaran.

Congestion was further exacerbated by the presence of U-turn locations in the Kebon Baru area, which caused vehicle flow to stall.

Other factors cited as triggering congestion included restrictions on heavy vehicle operating hours on Jalan Raya Cilincing.

“So the cause is not cargo piling up at Gate 9,” explained Nuratmo.

Similar remarks were made by a port worker named Ibnu (27). He said the congestion that occurred on Friday afternoon was not caused by increased activity at Gate 9.

“There was no increase in activity, and when I went home towards Enggano via Gate 9, it was indeed congested but the congestion was not because of that, but rather the U-turns,” said Ibnu when met on Jalan Enggano on Sunday.

Ibnu explained that one cause of congestion was the limited U-turn locations along Jalan Raya Pelabuhan (Port Main Road).

According to Ibnu, there were previously several U-turn points along Jalan Raya Pelabuhan, such as in front of the Bogasari area or Digul.

“Since the ones from the Cilincing direction towards Gate 9 were closed, it gets severely congested in the afternoon now, so it is not because of increased activity within the port,” he said.

Previously, it was reported that traffic around Tanjung Priok Port experienced severe congestion on Friday afternoon.