The Kalikangkung Toll Gate was buzzing with activity on Tuesday afternoon, March 24th, as traffic intensified ahead of the anticipated nationwide one-way system implementation for the Lebaran backflow. This critical junction saw a significant increase in vehicles, signaling the beginning of peak travel periods for those returning home.
Monitoring by kumparan at approximately 11:00 AM WIB revealed a noticeable surge in Jakarta-bound traffic. Congestion was particularly evident at the toll gate’s entry points from the Semarang direction, with private vehicles forming the dominant segment of the increasing flow. This early intensification underscored the pressing need for efficient traffic management.
To accommodate the escalating volume of vehicles, several toll booths at the Kalikangkung Toll Gate had already been activated. Field observations confirmed that around 10 toll gates were open, actively processing vehicles preparing to merge onto the toll road towards Jakarta, striving to maintain a smooth transit despite the rising numbers.
Despite the heightened vehicle volume, the overall traffic flow remained busy yet relatively smooth. In anticipation of the larger national one-way scheme, police officers had begun centralizing lanes specifically for Jakarta-bound traffic, focusing on the strategic sections between KM 414 and KM 390. This proactive measure was crucial for laying the groundwork for the upcoming extensive traffic engineering.
The comprehensive national one-way traffic management scheme, spanning from KM 414 to KM 70 in the direction of Jakarta, was scheduled to commence at 2:00 PM WIB. This significant undertaking, designed to optimize the Lebaran backflow, was slated to be inaugurated directly by the National Police Chief, highlighting its importance in national infrastructure management.
This follows earlier traffic management measures, as a local one-way system (stage 2) was already implemented on Monday, March 23rd, at 8:00 PM WIB, based on police discretion. This preceding one-way arrangement covered the stretch from KM 390 on the Batang-Semarang Toll Road to KM 70 on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road, specifically aimed at alleviating earlier backflow congestion.
Further enhancing the efforts to manage the heavy holiday traffic, the official Instagram account of Kakorlantas NTMC announced the implementation of another local one-way system. Since 10:25 AM WIB, this measure has been in effect to facilitate smoother vehicle movement from the Solo area towards Kalikangkung.
As per the official statement, “At 10:25 AM WIB, a Local One-Way System is being implemented from KM424 Semarang-Solo Toll Road up to KM 414 GT Kalikangkung,” indicating the ongoing dynamic adjustments to ensure efficient and safe passage for returning travelers during the Lebaran period.