Source : Perth Now news
Balinese officials have said that there are limited options to ease congestion in Canggu, one of its busiest tourist hotspots.
As crowds of Australians descend on the island, many hoping to visit the coastal hotspot of Canggu, a 5km journey that would normally take 10 to 15 minutes can currently end up taking more than an hour during Bali’s busiest period.
Once a laid-back surf village on Bali’s south west coast, Canggu has transformed into one of the island’s most sought-after destinations. Its booming popularity has fuelled rapid development in recent years, but the surge in visitors has also placed enormous pressure on its narrow roads and infrastructure.
Authorities in Badung Regency have been exploring ways to tackle chronic gridlock in Canggu, including discussions with police about possible traffic engineering measures. But preliminary studies have found there are few straightforward solutions.
The update comes after a new traffic management system was rolled out on a 14-day trial in Uluwatu, with leaders previously suggesting a successful outcome could pave the way for similar measures in Canggu.
However, as reported by The Bali Sun, Head of the Badung Transportation Agency AA Ngurah Gde Rahmadi said that conditions on the ground in Canggu made major changes difficult.
“We’ve discussed possible traffic engineering schemes with the Badung Police. However, conditions on the ground are indeed challenging because the roads in the Canggu area are nearly the same width and are all heavily trafficked,” he said.
Rahmadi explained that the area’s narrow roads made introducing one-way systems or diverting traffic particularly problematic, with alternative routes already choked by vehicles during peak periods and the tourist season.
The famous Canggu ‘shortcut’ that cuts between Jalan Raya Canggu and Jalan Pantai Berawa through the rice paddies was once considered a local hack to dodge the area’s bumper-to-bumper traffic. However, the tiny backstreet route is now so heavily used that it often grinds to a standstill itself, highlighting just how severe the congestion problem has become.
Despite the challenges, officials said they were continuing to review a range of options with stakeholders in a bid to improve conditions without shifting congestion elsewhere.
“We, along with relevant stakeholders, continue to seek the best solution. Congestion in Canggu cannot be tolerated, as the area is a highly populated tourist hub,” Rahmadi said.
He added that any long-term solution would require cooperation between multiple agencies, as well as drivers, with police expected to play a key role in enforcing any future traffic measures.
For the thousands of Australians heading to Bali during peak season, the advice remains simple: allow far more travel time than you think you’ll need.
