Driving in South Bali has been more of a headache than ever lately, as the roundabout in front of Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport has been experiencing extreme bottlenecking
No doubt helping plug up the area’s already dense traffic has been the big road work project at the roundabout, where an underpass is being built.
Denpasar Traffic Police are pleading with the public to find alternative routes to avoid going through the roundabout, or if you absolutely must go that way, budget ample time to pass through.
Police have also positioned officers at critical traffic points to help try and keep the flow going.
“Police have prepared alternative routes and personnel along Sunset Road, Sunset Road intersections, Benoa Square, and the Udayana Campus intersection,” Denpasar Traffic Police Chief Ismail Rahmawaty told Tribun Bali.
For instance, people driving from Nusa Dua, Bukit, or Jimbaran to Denpasar or beyond are advised not to take the Ngurah Rai By Pass via Jimbaran, but instead use the Bali Mandara Toll from Nusa Dua.
And vice versa: if traveling from Denpasar to the south, take the toll from Sanur to Nusa Dua and skip the the bypass altogether.
“We are appealing to everyone to pay attention to alternative paths. We are also disseminating information for socialization. We also suggest that people use the toll road,” said Rahmawaty.
Even, so we have to say that while going the toll road definitely seems faster, it can also be quite chock-a-block:
However, while we can blame the underpass construction for the slowdown at the airport roundabout, we’ve also got to keep in mind that more people are in Bali right now for the Chinese New Year holiday, reminded Rahmawaty.
One more tip from police: faster to hop on a scooter than go by car.
“We also urge the public to reduce their use of four-wheeled vehicles. So, if you can go by two-wheels, there will be less jams.”
