Jakarta, Waspada.co.id – PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk predicts that the peak of the Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 holiday return traffic will occur on Monday, January 1, 2024.
“Vehicles returning to Jabotabek will mostly come from the east direction (Trans Java direction), which is predicted to reach 140,000 vehicles, an increase of 28 percent from the peak of the Christmas 2022 and New Year 2023 homecoming traffic of 110,000 vehicles,” said Corporate Communication and Community Development Group Head Jasa Marga Lisye Octaviana in an official statement received in Jakarta on Friday (29/12/2023).
The number of vehicles from the east direction is also 58 percent of the total number of vehicles expected to return to Jabotabek, which is predicted to reach 240,000 vehicles, a 19 percent increase from the Christmas-New Year 2022/2023 and a 75 percent increase from normal traffic.
The total number of vehicles returning to Jabotabek is a cumulative traffic flow from four toll gates (GT) Barrier/Main, namely GT Cikupa (from the direction of Merak), GT Ciawi (from the direction of Puncak), GT Cikampek Utama (from the direction of Trans Jawa), and GT Kalihurip Utama (from the direction of Bandung).
Lisye explained that the predicted peak return traffic from the east direction (Trans Java direction) of 140,000 vehicles is also calculated based on the high realization of the peak of the Christmas-New Year homecoming traffic this year which occurred on H-2 Christmas 2023, or on Saturday, December 23, 2023, amounting to 134,000 vehicles, an increase of 34 percent from the peak of the Christmas 2022 homecoming traffic.
“Previously, Jasa Marga recorded that 1.9 million vehicles left the Jabotabek area during the Christmas 2023 holiday period (December 18-28, 2023). This number increased by 25 percent compared to normal traffic (1.5 million vehicles) during the same period. Compared to the Christmas 2022 period, the total traffic volume increased by 7 percent (1.79 million vehicles),” she said.
Lisye also explained that with this surge, the focus areas to be anticipated are at Km 66 of the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road, or the meeting point of vehicles from Bandung and Cikampek towards Jakarta.
“In addition, there is a potential for congestion in several sections of the Trans Java Toll Road from Semarang to Jakarta, especially at traffic node meeting points, arterial road exits, and some rest area locations. Therefore, Jasa Marga is collaborating with the Police and other relevant authorities to manage traffic in anticipation of congestion at these locations,” she said.
She also urged and requested the cooperation of road users, especially those traveling on the Trans Java Toll Road, to adjust their return travel time to Jabotabek for a more comfortable journey and to avoid piling up on the predicted peak return dates. This is also to maintain the travel time from Semarang to Jakarta, i.e., less than 7 hours or an average speed of 60 to 70 km/hour.
“Avoid returning on Monday and Tuesday, January 1 and 2, 2024. For road users who are still given leeway to continue their homecoming period, they can shift their travel to the option of Saturday-Sunday, December 30-31, 2023, or Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Especially on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, road users can also take advantage of a 10 percent toll discount that will apply on the Trans Java Toll Road for the return journey from Semarang to Jakarta (GT Kalikangkung to GT Cikampek Utama),” said Lisye. (wol/eko/d1)
