3 Million Vehicles Predicted to Pass Tangerang-Merak Toll Road during Christmas and New Year Holidays 2024

Illustration. The crossing atmosphere at the Cikupa Toll Road GT, Tangerang-Merak when crowded with travelers' vehicles. (Azmi Samsul Maarif)

JAKARTA - The Tangerang-Merak Toll Road Manager (Tamer) predicts that as many as three million vehicles will cross the toll road during the Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 holidays.

Astra Tol Director Tamer Rinaldi explained that the average daily traffic (LHR) was 159,755 vehicles, or 0.53 percent higher than the LHR in the same period in 2022, which was 158,888 vehicles.

"The peak Christmas and New Year traffic flow on the Tangerang-Merak toll road was 176,099 vehicles or 0.51 percent higher than the peak traffic in 2022 of 175,211 vehicles," he said in a written statement Thursday, December 21, reported by Antara.

He said that the three million vehicles that will pass on the Tangerang-Merak toll road will occur on December 22, 2023.

"We predict it will happen on December 22, 2023," he said.

Nevertheless, in dealing with traffic flow during the Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 periods, his party has prepared efforts to improve services, including in construction services carrying out road pavement maintenance through reconstruction and asphalt resurfacing (scrap, fill and overlay, SFO). at several points along the Tangerang-Merak toll road.

"The improvements have been made to both Jakarta and Merak since last October, so that road conditions are smooth and support comfortable and safe travel for road users," he said.

Meanwhile, he continued, for transaction services, there are four additional units of tandem substations with additional personnel totaling 16 people at the gates, which has the potential for congestion of up to eight technicians standing by for 24 hours.

Then, for traffic services, 24-hour traffic officers are alerted who are ready to help road users travel smoothly, coordinating with the Highway Police (PJR) and regional police, and the Transportation Service.

"We will also optimize Rest Area (TIP) services, both parking capacity, if needed, it will be opened situationally, additional parking areas at TIP KM 43 towards Merak, as well as other facilities to meet the needs of road users, such as the availability of free toilets, fuel at gas stations, and worship facilities," he said.

He also appealed to road users who will travel to avoid the peak dates for homecoming flows, tourist flows and return flows for Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 so as not to get stuck in traffic congestion or queues.

"We also remind travelers to check the suitability of the vehicle they are using, then prepare sufficient electronic money (e-toll) balance, always check traffic conditions and alternative routes, and what is no less important is that the driver is fit and healthy," he said.