Traffic jams, MORR I Manado route ready to be widened to 4 lanes

MANADO - The North Sulawesi National Road Implementation Office (BPJN) is planning to widen the Manado Outer Ring Road (MORR) I lane, which has long been a source of congestion, especially around the tunnel.

Head of the National Road Implementation Unit (Kasatker PJN) Region I of North Sulawesi Ringgo Radetyo said that the narrowing of the lane in the tunnel was the main point of the traffic jam.

"There is indeed a bottleneck in the tunnel. That is the point of congestion," said Ringgo in Manado, Antara, Friday, January 30.

He explained that the existing condition of MORR I has four lanes, but narrows to two lanes when approaching the tunnel. The narrowing caused vehicle queues, especially during rush hours.

"The plan is to expand it to four lanes so that there will be no more congestion at certain times," he said.

Ringgo revealed that there was previously a budget to handle the narrowing of the lane. However, the plan was delayed due to budget efficiency policies.

"It was indeed budgeted at the beginning of 2025, but it was affected by efficiency so it was postponed. This year we are trying to get back in," he said.

According to Ringgo, the budget needed for the widening of the lane from two to four lanes is estimated to reach Rp. 24 billion.

Previously, the Head of BPJN North Sulawesi Hendro Satrio MK had proposed handling the MORR I traffic jam to the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR).

The proposal includes replacing the tunnel with a bridge with four traffic lanes below it to relieve congestion on the Outer Ring Road of Manado.

Traffic jams at MORR I generally occur in the morning when it is time to go to work and in the afternoon when residents from outside the city return after working hours.

The development of MORR I will later be connected to the construction of MORR III which is currently underway. This infrastructure is expected to support connectivity to the Bitung Special Economic Zone (KEK).