Repair work congests airport toll road

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 04/08/2008 11:50 AM  |  Headlines

Motorists traveling to and from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport during the next four months should be prepared for severe traffic jams due to roadwork on Jembatan Tiga toll road in Pluit, North Jakarta, which began Monday.

Thousands of people were trapped in thick traffic jams from early Monday morning until night.

The toll road, which connects Cawang in East Jakarta, Tanjung Priok and Pluit in North Jakarta and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, is one of the busiest turnpikes in the city.

"The traffic jam was awful. It took me almost two hours to get to my office in Tanjung Priok this morning, while usually it takes less than 45 minutes. It was so stressing," said Airin, who lives in Pancoran, South Jakarta.

"I tried to find an alternative road but changed my mind because the traffic on other roads was just as bad."

The toll road is under repair due to a massive fire last August that tore through a slum under the expressway, destroying the nearby tollgate and an office building belonging to the state toll road operator.

An officer at the Jakarta Police Traffic Management Center, First Brig. Widi, said the toll road repairs had caused traffic congestion on toll roads and major arteries in both directions between Jl. S. Parman in West Jakarta and the airport and between Pluit and Tanjung Priok.

He said motorists should take alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion.

"Those who want to go to the airport can take alternative roads via Tangerang or Jl. Daan Mogot, West Jakarta," he said.

"As for small vehicles heading from Tanjung Priok to the airport, I suggest they keep taking the toll road. Roads under the turnpike will be more crowded because many more large vehicles will be using them," Widi said.

The Jembatan Tiga toll road operator, PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada (CMNP), said the roadwork will continue until July.

During the repairs, only one lane will be open in each direction, said CMNP public relations officer Ita Kusumawati.

"Cars, minibuses and pickup trucks can still use the road, but large trucks or trailers and buses are not allowed because we don't want to take risks," she said.

"It is dangerous for huge vehicles to use the road while it is under construction. This is our first project reconstructing a toll road."

She said truck and bus drivers should use the main arteries under the toll road.

"We have installed a gate to prevent large vehicles from using the toll road," she said.

She said the company had distributed leaflets to truck and bus drivers to advise them of the project weeks before construction began. (trw)

Alternative roads:

- From Ancol/Tanjung Priok to Soekarno-Hatta airport
* Exit at the PRJ-Kemayoran, Sea World-Ancol, Mangga Dua, Sunda Kelapa/Glodok or Jembatan Tiga tollgate
* Reenter at Jembatan Tiga 1, Angke 1, Angke 2 or Pluit tollgate (show your toll receipts)

- From Soekarno-Hatta airport to Ancol/Tanjung Priok
* Exit at Pluit
* Reenter at Jembatan Tiga 2 or Gedong Panjang 2 tollgate (pay full toll)

- From Grogol/Soekarno-Hatta airport to Ancol/Tanjung Priuk
* Exit at Jembatan Tiga
* Reenter at Jembatan Tiga 2 or Gedong Panjang 2 tollgate (show your toll receipts)

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