Jalan Fatmawati, a major north-south artery running through South Jakarta, has always been notorious for crazy traffic jams. But over the past few years, it has become a street to be avoided for many Jakartans as parts of it were reduced to single lanes to accommodate construction of the MRT.
But many were horrified when news broke about two weeks ago that parts of Fatmawati would be closed off entirely for 6 solid months due to the construction, a prospect that promised to turn all traffic in the area into perpetual gridlock.
But as it turns out, it looks like the road is only going to be partially closed off for half a year. Which still sounds pretty awful but is slightly better so yay?
This news comes from the authorities wanting to clear up the 6-month shut down reports.
“Many people still don’t have all of the information,” said Cilandak Traffic Police Chief Commissioner Sumarno, as quoted by Tempo today.
According to police, from February 4 to August 11, a 300-meter stretch of Jalan Fatmawati (between Jalan Abdul Majid Raya intersection and Jalan Darul Ma’arif intersection, just south of the ITC Fatmawati shopping center) will be partially closed off, allowing vehicles going in both direction to only drive in single lanes. The area is the planned site of the Haji Nawi MRT station.
Previously, PT MRT Jakarta Director William P. Sabandar said the planned partial closure of Jalan Fatmawati is necessary to prevent setbacks to the MRT project.
“If it’s not closed, then the whole construction (completion) may be delayed until August 2019,” he said earlier this month, as quoted by Tempo.
The first phase of the MRT project is scheduled for completion by early 2019. Between now and then, PT MRT announced that they will increase the intensity and speed of their construction works, meaning that it’s likely that more streets will be partially closed like Jalan Fatmawati, contributing to more macet in the capital – macet that, of course, we hope will substantially decrease once the MRT is operational.
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