This is the Ministry of PU's effort to support the smooth flow of traffic in Banten during the Nataru holiday
JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works (PU) said that the national road network along 567.9 kilometers (km) in Banten Province has a stability level of 96.76 percent, and is supported by 221 bridges with stable conditions.
Meanwhile, the length of operational toll roads in Banten reaches 204.78 km, which is the backbone of connectivity to the ferry port and strategic industrial areas in the western region of Java Island.
Minister PU Dody Hanggodo emphasized that his party was committed to ensuring that people's travel was safe and comfortable during the Christmas and New Year 2026 (Nataru) holidays.
"We want people who celebrate Christmas and New Year to be able to travel happily on the road, get to their destination well and return home safely," said Dody in a written statement, Tuesday, December 23.
Dody also reminded the importance of traffic safety, especially for motorcycle users.
He appealed, so that drivers do not force themselves and take advantage of the rest post that has been provided.
"The PU Ministry has activated 590 posts throughout Indonesia. I hope that two-wheeled drivers will stop and rest at the nearest post before they get tired, because safety is the main thing," he said.
To support the smooth and comfortable flow of traffic in Nataru, the Head of the National Road Implementation Agency (BPJN) Banten Directorate General of Road Construction of the Ministry of PU Primawan Avicenna said, his party had alerted road facilities and infrastructure and placed personnel at points prone to congestion.
"BPJN Banten has prepared Nataru posts spread across the national road network. At each post, the Disaster Relief Unit (DRU) is also alerted in the form of heavy equipment and emergency response teams to anticipate disasters and traffic disruptions," he said.
It is recorded that BPJN Banten has activated eight Nataru posts spread across all strategic sections of national roads, including one main post around Merak which is located at Simpang Gerem, Cilegon City.
In addition, DRU was also alerted at 10 locations with the support of heavy equipment, including excavators, dump trucks, bailey bridges, stampers, and generators, as well as a rapid reaction team ready to move 24 hours a day.
In the arrangement of crossing flows, the Ministry of PU supports the distribution scheme of vehicles from Java to Sumatra through three main ports in Banten, namely Merak Port, Ciwandan, and Bakau Jaya Port (BBJ) Bojonegoro. The scheme is carried out to reduce density and increase the effectiveness of crossing services.
The distribution of crossing services is segmented, where Merak Port serves four-wheeled vehicles and buses, Ciwandan serves motorcycles, fuel trucks, and grocery trucks, while the BBJ Bojonegoro Port is focused on crossing goods and logistics trucks.
The national road access to the three ports is also served through several main corridors.
For Merak Port, the public will be served by the Merak KM 98 Toll Exit, West Cilegon KM 92 Toll Exit, and East Cilegon KM 87 Toll Exit which are directly connected to the Cilegon-Merak national route.
Meanwhile, access to the BBJ and Ciwandan ports is also supported by the national road Serdang-Bojonegara-Merak and the national road network and the South Ring Road of Cilegon City.
In general, Primawan said, the level of access stability to ports in the Banten region is in the range of 84-98 percent, with special attention to the sections traveled by heavy vehicles from industrial and quarry areas.
"With the readiness of national road infrastructure, standby posts, and cross-ministry and agency coordination, we are optimistic that the Nataru 2025/2026 flow in Banten Province can run safely, smoothly, and comfortably," he added.