Chaos Lebaran at Japek Toll! Emergency Contraflow Implemented, Thousands of Vehicles Stuck

Karawang - The surge in the Lebaran homecoming flow triggered extreme density on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road until officers were forced to implement contraflow traffic engineering on Saturday, March 21. Thousands of vehicles were reported to have slowed down and even stalled, forcing a quick intervention to prevent total congestion on the Trans Jawa main line.

Traffic engineering is applied at the discretion of the police and coordinated by PT Jasamarga Transjawa Tol. Vice President Corporate Secretary & Legal JTT, Ria Marlinda Paallo, said that the contraflow was implemented starting at 11.05 WIB at KM 55 to KM 65 towards Cikampek.

The density is triggered by the high volume of vehicles moving towards the east of Java Island, along the peak of the Eid al-Fitr homecoming flow. The contraflow scheme was then expanded on a situational basis, with one lane from KM 47 to KM 55 and two lanes from KM 55 to KM 70 towards Cikampek.

The situation was heated at several points due to long queues of vehicles, but gradually under control after maximum engineering was applied. Officers in the field continue to monitor and adjust traffic flows to maintain the smooth flow of travel.

After the traffic conditions were assessed again to be stable, the official contraflow was stopped at 18.02 WIB. Vehicle traffic in both directions was reported to be normal, although the volume remained high.

Jasamarga appeals to road users to remain vigilant during the homecoming journey, including ensuring that vehicle conditions are in good condition, maintaining a safe distance, and complying with signs and instructions from officers. In addition, motorists are also asked to anticipate potential rain that can affect road conditions.

This momentum once again confirms that the Japek Toll remains a crucial point in the national homecoming flow. In the midst of the euphoria of returning home, one thing is clear: a little careless, the traffic jam can turn into a "long drama" on the Trans Java asphalt.