Complete Standstill in Puncak as Holiday Makers Begin to Return
1 January 2016 20:36 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-The trunk route between Puncak and Cipanas in Cianjur, has been on a complete standstill for a couple of hours since Friday afternoon, January 1, 2016. As night approaches, a 14 kilometre-long traffic jam has been reported - stretching both ways into Puncak and Cipanas.
Traffic officers have placed several diversions in place, but to no avail as the jam is simply caused by an overwhelmingly high numbers of vehicles going to and from Cipanas.
Similar conditions have been reported on alternative routes, such as the Jl. Hanjawar-Sukaresmi-Pacet, as well as around tourist attractions such as Cibodas Botanical Gardens, and the National Flower Garden, where vehicles can be seen occupying the same spot for hours - barely moving from its' position due to the extreme congestion.
"This complete standstill on the road between Puncak and Cipanas started at 14.00 this afternoon," said Roni, a 34-year old motorist from South Jakarta. "I have been stuck on the road for three hours, and I still have a long way to go before I reach the main route home."
Roni and his family is just one among thousands of holiday-makers who had spent the night at Puncak's many high-end villas and accommodations to celebrate New Years, who chose to return before the return exodus begins to peak on Sunday - but instead, got stuck because it turns out, many are choosing to do the same thing.
"I thought by returning to Jakarta one day early we could avoid the traffic," he said. "Turns out, the traffic is already so bad, and even before the traffic peaked, the jams have spanned several kilometres long."
ANTARA