Backflow To Jakarta Increases, National Police Chief Extends One Way System Time

The atmosphere on the Cipali Toll Road is crowded with travelers going to Jakarta and its surroundings/ Photo: IST

JAKARTA - The National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo stated that there is a possibility that the time for implementing the one-way system on toll roads will be extended to prevent traffic congestion at the peak of the 2022 Eid homecoming return.

According to Sigit, the change in traffic engineering strategy was carried out due to the significant increase in traffic conditions on toll roads, especially the return to Jakarta.

"So there is a possibility that a one-way extension will be carried out," said Sigit in a written statement received in Jakarta, Saturday, May 7.

He explained that in addition to extending the implementation time, road sections that were applied in one direction would also be extended at the same time.

This police discretion was taken because of the increasing traffic conditions on D+4 Eid al-Fitr.

Volume increased

Based on a direct observation at the KM 70 Cikampek Utama (Cikatama) Toll Road, Saturday, Sigit revealed that the volume of vehicles has continued to increase until now. From the report, it is predicted that tonight the number of passing vehicles will reach 160 thousand per hour, and will continue to increase until the next day.

"Surely these numbers are our concern," said Sigit.

He said traffic conditions in Kalikangkung, Semarang, also experienced a special increase starting from 15.00, 16.00 and 17.00 WIB, to exceed 5,000 vehicles so that the trend would have an impact 6 or 7 hours later in the Cikatama area.

"Therefore, we continue to carry out joint evaluations of the fluctuations in the increase in these numbers," he said.

The former Police Chief of Criminal Investigation Unit added that specifically for one direction, reaching KM 28 or arriving at KM 3,500 Halim was still adjusted to see conditions on the ground.

This traffic engineering, said Sigit, was carried out in a situational manner, taking into account the situations and conditions that occur at any time so that the timing or extension of the segment still looks at the dynamics of traffic flow that develops in the field.

"However, its development will certainly be adjusted to the level of backflow density that we will face tonight and tomorrow," he explained.