Jakarta Provincial Government Has Decided To Reduce Excavation Project Area To Ease TB Simatupang Traffic Congestion

Motorized vehicles are stuck in traffic jams on TB Simatupang Street, Cilandak, Jakarta, Thursday, August 21, 2025.

JAKARTA - Head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency, Syafrin Liputo, stated that the Jakarta Provincial Government will not be reducing a portion of the sidewalk on TB Simatupang Street, South Jakarta, to reduce congestion.

Initially, the Jakarta Provincial Government planned to demolish several sections of sidewalk around the excavation project area to increase road capacity, particularly across from the Cibis Park Building exit to the Keramat Street-TB Simatupang Street intersection.

"Based on the results of a field inspection, the plan to temporarily reduce the sidewalk at the PAL Jaya manhole section 4 excavation, after a technical assessment by the Bina Marga Agency, cannot be implemented," Syafrin told reporters on Thursday, August 28.

It turned out that the existing sidewalk at the location was less than 1 meter wide. Furthermore, there were underground utility cables, electricity poles, and street lighting poles.

"Therefore, temporary relocation through construction methods was not possible," Syafrin said.

Therefore, the Jakarta Provincial Government has taken additional steps to address traffic congestion on TB Simatupang Street, namely by reducing the fence around the excavation work area from 35 meters to just 20 meters.

"We are also increasing the contractor's work productivity by increasing working hours and the number of workers, thereby expediting the excavation and piping installation process," he said.

Furthermore, the contractor has increased the number of flagmen and deployed traffic control officers from the Transportation Agency and the police to address public mobility concerns.

"We urge the public to switch to public transportation or avoid TB Simatupang Street if their activities are not in that area," said Syafrin.