"This opening of the underpass is aimed as a trial traffic operation prior to the official opening ceremony," Hendro Satrio, the underpass project's executive officer, said.

The trial operation of the Simpang Siur underpass would start with north to south routes connecting with Sunset Road on the way up to the Ngurah Rai Bypass, which leads to Ngurah Rai International Airport in Tuban, Satrio said.

For traffic moving in the opposite direction, Satrio said, there would be no opening until the project was fully completed.

The construction of the Simpang Siur underpass is one of the resort island's efforts to cope with the severe traffic congestion that is choking its main tourist routes. Construction began in Dec. 2011, along with the construction of the Benoa-Nusa Dua toll road.

Simpang Siur on the Dewa Ruci intersection is a critical point of convergence for traffic traveling to and from the island's most important tourist sites, including Ngurah Rai International Airport, Nusa Dua, Kuta, Sanur, Denpasar and Ubud.

Prolonged traffic gridlock is a common sight at and around the intersection. The construction of the 450-meter-long road has cost around Rp 136 billion, with funds allocated from the state budget.

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