It’s time to brace ourselves for New Year’s traffic madness in Bali. Here at The Bali Sun, we have seen more than a few NYEs on the island, and we know that despite everyone’s best efforts, there will be carnage on the roads. It’s not just us who’s saying it, locals are gearing up for ‘horrific’ traffic jams.
The worst of the traffic jams is expected to be recorded in Kuta, though we’re all preparing for congestion in Canggu, Uluwatu, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Sanur, and Ubud.
Bali Police are doing all they can to help mitigate the traffic situation and have implemented a temporary traffic flow to help keep everyone moving. However, this does little in the face of the very real and unavoidable truth that Bali’s road network was never designed to cope with so many vehicles and so many people traveling in so many different directions.
Over the festive season, Bali’s road network not only has to contend with a massive influx of visitors who are traveling by locally hired transport, but also deals with a sizeable increase in the number of vehicles on the roads that have traveled to the province from Java.
Denpasar Police Traffic Chief, Commissioner Yusuf Dwi Admodjo, told reporters that traffic management solutions have been put in place around Kuta Beach, Ngurah Rai Airport, and the GWK Cultural Park on the Bukit.
These three areas are particularly prone to traffic bottlenecks. Kuta, which is expected to welcome tens of thousands of tourists over the New Year, will see major traffic diversion.
Commissioner Admodjo explained that the Pasar Seni intersection, traffic from Jalan Kartika Plaza heading towards Kuta Beach will be diverted to Jalan Tegall Wangi as Jalan Kartika Plaza is fully closed.
Vehicles traveling from Patih Jelantik-Dewi Sri Intersection towards Legain will be diverted due to road closure and will be directed towards Jalan Dewi Sri northbound, and eastbound onto Jalan Raya Kuta. The parking issue is also being addressed by Bali Police, which has highlighted seven parking areas where vehicles are advised to park.
These are Gelora Tri Sakti, Jalan Patih Jelantik – Sriwijaya, Central Parking Kuta, Beach Walk Mall, Bali Galeria Mall, Centro Mall, Waterbom, and the Kuta Traditional Village Parking. Parking will also be available at Trsakti Field and Sriwijaya Lane in Legian.
Commissioner Admodjo concluded, “We urge the public and visitors to park at the Central Parking area and then walk to Kuta Beach.”
Denpasar Police Traffic Deputy Police, AKP I Gusti Putu Bagus Pradana, told reporters that teams are committed to keeping everyone moving safely and comfortably this New Year.
He shared, “This traffic engineering measure is being implemented in the Kuta area due to the high traffic congestion experienced during New Year’s celebrations.”
There are also solutions in place around Canggu and Kerobokan, and Bali Traffic Police have been adjusting the flow of traffic based on the volume of vehicles, which has added to confusion for drivers who are being diverted from their usual routes.
Speaking to reporters, the Head of Traffic at the Badung Transportation Agency, I Made Gede Wiryantara Adi Susandi, explained that traffic engineering on Jalan Mertanadi will now focus on a one-way route from the south, specifically from Sunset Road to Jalan Tangkuban Perahu.
He told reporters, “On the first day of the trial, we made it two-way. Vehicles entering from the Kerobokan Prison intersection or Tangkuban Perahu Street heading south were unable to do so.”
“It turned out the intersection wasn’t wide enough for vehicles coming from the east or Denpasar, so they had to maneuver onto Mertanadi Street or south.”
With traffic mitigation measures in place across Bali’s top tourism resorts and with police adjusting solutions based on real-time reports on congestion, tourists are advised to prepare for every eventuality on the roads; expect delays, closures, and diversions.
Tourists are advised to be at their NYE venues as early as possible to avoid being caught in traffic jams. Tourists traveling to Bali Airport are advised to leave more than enough time to travel to the terminals and to expect delays throughout the central south of Bali, including on the Mandara Toll Road.
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