Ambitious Road Projects In Bali Set To Resolve Tourism Traffic Issues

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Just as leaders in Bali have confirmed that tourists must brace for increased traffic congestion from September, it has been confirmed that a new underpass is set to be given the go-ahead for construction.

One such underpass will run from the Tohpati Intersection in Sanur to the Udayana University Intersection at Jimbaran.

Bali’s issues with traffic congestion are undeniable. For years leaders have been discussing ways in which the issues can be rectified in both the long and short term.

Anyone who has visited Bali before will be all too familiar with the levels of traffic congestion experiences throughout the south of the island especially at peak travel times.

The traffic congestion not only impacts tourists but has a negative impact on local businesses, communities and commuters traveling to and from work. 

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The Head of Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) P2LLAJ Bali Transportation Office, Muhammad Sofyan, explained to reporters the reasons why traffic backs up so significantly at these intersections. He shared that the traffic volume exceeds the red light cycle time.

This means that even though the normal red light cycle time is 130 seconds, the amount of traffic that backs up in between cycles cannot be cleared in the time that the lights go green.

The volume of traffic consistently outsizes red light cycle time, so even increasing the timings would not make a sufficient difference. 

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Sofyan explained, “We have four methods of arranging intersections from priority lanes, traffic lights, roundabouts, and flyover/underpasses.” The underpass has been recommended by the Ministry of Public Works and Sofyan and his teams will be working to bring plans together as quickly as possible. 

At this stage, Sofyan was unable to give more details but was able to confirm that the Bali Transportation Office will be working with the Minster of Public Works to create an ambitious project to resolve the traffic issues in the Sanur and Jimbaran areas as soon as possible. 

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He explained, “We had a meeting with the Ministry of PUPR; there will be an increase in solid intersections along the Ngurah Rai Bypass that will be made into an underpass, including the airport horse statue intersection; the Satria Gatot Kaca Statue in Tuban, Kuta, to I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport.”

Bali travelers have also been told to brace for major traffic disruptions starting in September as work gets underway for the much anticipated Bali Urban Rail Network.

The first phase of the project will connect Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport with the resorts of Kuta and Seminyak.

The second phase of the project will be a circular line connecting Bali Airport with central Denpasar and the resort of Sanur, which has now become a Special Economic Zone for medical and wellness tourism. 

Traffic in Bali is almost an unavoidable reality for tourists in 2024; while there are a few tips and tricks to avoid congestion, many Bali lovers feel that it is a small price to pay for the opportunity to travel in the province. 

Tips and tricks to avoid the queues include heading out for day trips super early in the morning. By starting day trips at 7am rather than 8am tourists can skip much of the congestion en-route to top attractions and get the opportunity to see these bucket list destinations before the crowds arrive. 

As has been the stance of tourism leaders across the province, one of the easiest ways to avoid traffic congestion on the island is to stay in lesser-visited and emerging destinations.

For example, there is rarely tourism traffic in destinations like Amed in East Bali, Lovina in the north of the island, or the black sand beach resorts of Gianyar Regency.

Staying in these resorts gives tourists access to quiet beaches and top attractions, with the benefit of accessing bucket list destinations via roads less prone to congestion.