Aerial view of Jakarta - Cikampek II elevated toll road. On Sunday, the toll was officially operational for free until Christmas and New Year's Day. (Image via Liputan6.com)

JaPek toll road opens for free until Christmas and New Year

On Sunday, the Jakarta – Cikampek (JaPek II) elevated toll road was officially operational at 06.00 a.m. The 38-km elevated toll road can be accessed for free until Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, generally known as Jokowi, also confirmed the news on Thursday.

In the opening of the toll road, the Head of Corporate Communication & Community Development Group of PT Jasa Marga (Persero), Dwimawan Heri, said that the no toll event is held to let people from outside and inside Jakarta use other alternatives during Christmas and New Year’s Day vacation.

To enter the elevated toll road, those driving from Cikampek can go through Inner Ring Road from Halim/Cawang and enter through KM 10 JaPek II access gate. While those from Jakarta Outer Ring Road (JORR) and Jatiasih can enter KM 45 JORR access gate, and those from Rorotan can enter KM 46 JORR access gate.

Meanwhile, for those entering Jakarta, they can go through West Karawang through KM 48 JaPek II access gate.

President Director of PT Jasa Marga, Desi Arryani, said that the JaPek elevated toll road is made for those who go on long distances. It has no rest area nor gas station.

It is evident that the Indonesian people love free stuff. Since the breaking dawn, cars are lining up to enter the JaPek II elevated toll road. Although the toll opened for the first time at 06.00 a.m., some were even willing to depart from their homes at 5.30 a.m. to drive on it.

Built since 2017 and finished in 2019, many people were excited to test the elevated toll road. They hope that JaPek II will minimize the lengthy journey to other cities. Not only the length but also the Indonesian government predicted that the toll road will minimize the horrendous traffic jam to at least 30 percent.

Source: https://bit.ly/2sqwnzO