Jembrana. Traffic congestion on the main route from Denpasar to Port of Gilimanuk stretched for about 39 kilometers on Sunday, causing severe gridlock just six days before the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

The congestion, which began early Saturday morning, has left some motorists spending nearly 20 hours on the road before reaching Bali’s largest ferry terminal.

Jembrana Police spokesman Putu Budi Aryana said police had opened the Gilimanuk cargo terminal to temporarily accommodate private cars and motorcycles waiting to board ferries bound for Java.

However, the measure has not been enough to ease the traffic buildup.

Large vehicles such as buses and trucks continue to queue along the main highway leading to the port, making heavy congestion unavoidable.

Putu said traffic density toward Gilimanuk is expected to persist until March 18.

As in previous years, the cargo terminal is being used as a temporary parking area serving as a buffer zone before vehicles enter the ferry port.

The facility can accommodate up to 250 cars, but access to the port from the terminal requires vehicles to pass through village roads due to the heavy traffic on the main route.

One traveler, Dwi Asmoko, said he left for the port with his family around 10 p.m. on Saturday but was still waiting in line by Sunday afternoon — nearly 20 hours after departing.

“Traveling ahead of the Eid holiday always carries the risk of traffic jams, but we just try to enjoy the journey. If we’re tired, we stop and rest,” Dwi said. He was heading to Jember.

Another motorist, Ridwan, said he left Denpasar at around 7 a.m. on Sunday.

“At first the traffic was smooth, but once we reached Kota Negara we got stuck in congestion. We tried alternative routes but ended up encountering the same traffic,” Ridwan said. “I heard the queue now stretches up to 39 kilometers.”

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