New Toll Road Plans Set To Change Way Tourists Navigate Bali Forever

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The idea for a new toll road connecting North Bali with South Bali has been on the table for a good while now.

Here at The Bali Sun, we have been tracking the dialogue around the plans for nearly two years. This week, officials have shed light on another mega toll road project that would change the way tourists navigate the island forever.

While there are hopes that the tender for the North-South Bali Toll Road will go up for bidding in 2026, leaders in Bali have just released plans for another new mega toll road project that would change the face of Bali forever, and could potentially be built before the proposed North-South Bali Toll Road.

The team behind the Kura Kura Special Economic Zone is planning a mega toll road construction project that will connect the area directly to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

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The Kura Kura Special Economic Zone is 498 hectares of Seranagn Island that is being developed as an area for tourism and creative enterprises. It is the second Special Economic Zone in Bali, following the newly redeveloped Sanur Special Economic Zone for Health, Medical, and Wellness Tourism.

The new zone was established during the presidency of Joko Widodo, back in April 2023, and major redevelopment work is now underway. As explained by Kura Kura Bali, the area is set to “realize an investment with a total value of IDR 104.4 trillion will generate 35,036 direct jobs and another 64,817 indirect employment positions. When fully operational in 2052, the Kura Kura SEZ will contribute USD 31.8 billion in foreign exchange to the Indonesian economy.”

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With the area undergoing a total transformation, long-term solutions have to be put in place now, including transportation and infrastructural support.

Traffic congestion in the central south of Bali, especially around the bottleneck intersections at the top of the Bukit Peninsula, Bali Airport, and South Denpasar, is in clear need of upgrades to be able to support the current level of traffic, let alone the capacity demands of the future.

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The new toll road would integrate with the existing Bali Mandara Toll Road, which already alleviates as much airport traffic as possible from the surrounding roads.

The Kura Kura Bali management team is reported to be finalizing the environmental impact analysis documents, which is one of the most time-consuming aspects of a project prior to construction starting.

Reports also confirm that intensive communication continues with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to ensure the toll road’s technical specifications meet national safety standards.

However, as the government and major investors seek to develop Kura Kura Bali into a thriving economic hub, there are local politicians and community members who are concerned that the development could come at the cost of the environment and Balinese culture, irrespective of what environmental impact assessments and cultural conservation pledges commit to. 

Local politician and Secretary of the Special Committee for Spatial Planning, Assets, and Licensing, Dr Somvir, this week launched a spot check on the Kura Kura Bali team (PT Bali Turtle Island Development) as the project acquired the land management contract for the Ngurah Rai Grand Forest Park.

He spoke to reporters about his concerns that the overall redevelopment of the lands acquired for Kura Kura Bali could negatively impact the environmental longevity of Bali for local communities, tourists, and wildlife. 

He told reporters, “What Bali doesn’t have is an oxygen house, not [more] five-star hotels. An oxygen house is trees. Denpasar lacks green space.”

Dr Somvir explained, “Bali is a perfectly spiritual island. It’s very connected to Hindu values and the surrounding sacred temples. If the concept is environmentally friendly, Hindus and the Balinese people will definitely support it.”

He concluded, “We always welcome good investors who protect Bali’s environment, water, and land. The earth produces enough for everybody’s needs, but never enough for anyone’s greed.”

As the Kura Kura Bali development continues, tourists traveling to Bali will have to prepare to be met with traffic congestion in the area.

Sadly, this is an unavoidable reality of visiting the island. Thankfully, however, it seldom ruins a vacation day if suitable measures are put in place. Here at The Bali Sun, our advice is simple: leave plenty of time to travel, and always bring snacks for the road…including for your driver!