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Government anticipates traffic jams during Idul Fitri exodus
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Garbage scattered amid traffic congestion headed toward the Pejagan exit toll road in Central Java on July 4, 2016. Impromptu street vendors offered food to travellers stuck in traffic for hours. (Antara/Rosa Panggabean)
T
he government has prepared several anticipatory measures to prevent the reoccurrence of serious traffic congestion during the Idul Fitri exodus after people were trapped on congested roads for days while headed to their hometowns in Central and East Java, last year.
Last year's congestion occurred because the roads in the Central Java town of Brebes could not accommodate the number of vehicles leaving through its toll exit gates, colloquially known as “Brexit.”
Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT) head Herry Trisputra Zuna said the construction of a new 110 kilometer-toll road equipped with six new exit gates would help ease the traffic congestion during the peak days in late June.
(Read also: Surakarta-Kertosono toll road opens for exodus)
"With the additional toll road, we hope vehicles will not be clogged at Brexit as they will be spread out along the six new gates. Brexit will only be used for vehicles with destinations in Brebes and Tegal," Herry said.
Meanwhile, the Public Works and Housing Ministry has also constructed four flyovers in Dermolen, Kesambi and Kretek in Brebes and Klonengan in Tegal.
“The construction of the four flyovers is 80 percent completed. We aim to have them fully completed 10 days before Idul Fitri celebration [on June 25],” said the ministry’s director general for road construction, Arie Setiadi Moerwanto. A dozen passengers reportedly died last year while travelling to Central Java towns during the Idul Fitri exodus. Many people failed to celebrate the holiday in their hometowns after being trapped in traffic jams on the toll road. (yon/bbn)
