Vehicle Volume in GT Cikupa Tangerang-Merak Increases

JAKARTA - The traffic flow (lalin) traffic flow from Jakarta to the direction of Merak Port through the Cikupa Toll Gate (GT), Tangerang Regency, Banten, on H-3 Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah/2026 Masehi continues to experience a significant increase.

Based on ANTARA's monitoring in the field on Wednesday (18/3) early morning, a number of traffic flows dominated by private vehicles and passenger buses heading to the Merak-Bakauheni Port crossing were seen flowing.

Likewise, the situation at several toll gate entrances operated, was also busy, due to the presence of a number of vehicles or drivers making toll payment transactions.

Meanwhile, at the gate or door in the opposite direction, namely towards the Jakarta area, it also began to be crowded by motorists from the Banten area.

However, based on data collected from PT Marga Mandalasakti (MMS) as the manager of the Tangerang-Merak Toll Road, the traffic volume since H-5 has been around 165,000 vehicles passing towards the Merak Port.

However, if the daily data calculated from H-10 on March 11 to 16, 2026, the total vehicles entering the Tangerang - Merak toll road reached 248,575 vehicles.

"With a daily traffic of 52,432 vehicles, a decrease of 4.92 percent compared to the same period in 2025, or 4.36 percent higher than the normal daily average traffic (LHR)," Head of the CSR and Public Relations Management Department of Astra Toll Tangerang-Merak PT MMS Uswatun Hasanah when confirmed in Tangerang, Wednesday.

Then, for the outgoing traffic flow (Exit) of the Merak Toll Gate, the traffic flow (lalin) to the Merak Port and its surroundings in the period 11-16 March 2026 was recorded as 66,016 vehicles.

Where, as of Monday, March 16, the traffic volume reached 13,717 vehicles, down 19.41 percent compared to the same period in 2025.

"However, it increased by 57.29 percent compared to the normal LHR," he said.

In this case, MMS projects that at least 3.5 million vehicles will pass through the Tangerang-Merak toll road during the Lebaran Idul Fitri 1447 Hijriah/2026 Masehi homecoming period.

Of the 3.5 million vehicles that left Jabodetabek with the destination of Sumatra Island, this experienced an increase when compared to the same period in the previous year, which reached 3.4 million.

"If we predict it will be around 3.5 million vehicles that will pass (the Tangerang-Merak toll road)," he said.

He said that the trend of increasing traffic volume traffic flow is predicted to increase to 2.5 percent to 2.8 percent.

"So it's around 2.5 to 2.8 percent higher than the total volume of goods in 2025," he said.

Meanwhile, he said, for the peak of the Lebaran homecoming, especially on the toll road, it is predicted to occur on March 18-19, 2026. Where, during that period, vehicle traffic will increase significantly.

"If the peak of the homecoming flow, we predict on March 19th. Because if you look at the traffic trend towards the Tangerang-Merak section, it is on average to the Merak Port," he said.