Ahead of the New Year celebrations in 2025, the Bali Police have issued an appeal to the public to celebrate the turn of the year with positive activities and to maintain security and public order across the island.
They have also advised tourists visiting Bali over New Year’s Eve to prepare for the anticipated traffic congestion.
This warning comes in light of the expected high volume of vehicles in Bali during the festive period. Traffic jams regularly occur on New Year’s Eve, particularly in the Kuta and Canggu areas.
Both locations are particularly crowded with tourists, as they are popular destinations for celebrating the arrival of the new year.
“To those who will be visiting Bali, please be aware of the current situation here,” said Bali Police Operations Bureau Chief, Kombes Pol Soelistijono.
The volume of vehicles is very high, so be prepared for traffic congestion if you are coming to Bali.
Additionally, the Bali Police Chief has urged the public to remain vigilant about the potential for natural disasters and to ensure their vehicles are in good condition before travelling.
“If you are travelling, make sure your vehicle’s documents and condition are in order. Do not drive if you are tired; if you feel fatigued or sleepy, take a break,” he added.
Severe Traffic Jam in Canggu on 30th December 2024
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A severe Bali’s traffic jam occurred at Jalan Raya Canggu, Canggu Village, North Kuta District, Badung, on the evening of Monday, 30th December. The congestion left many drivers frustrated as they were stuck in traffic for hours.
Vehicles were held up from Tibubeneng Village to Canggu Village and Cemagi Village, with the opposite direction also experiencing significant delays. Even online motorcycle riders were unable to move for 30 minutes due to the gridlock.
The traffic jam began at around 5:30 pm and worsened by 7:00 pm, leaving both motorcyclists and car drivers visibly frustrated and emotional.
Bali’s Traffic Management for New Year’s Eve 2025 to Prevent Congestion
In response to the expected traffic issues, the Bali Police, in collaboration with local government agencies, have implemented a traffic management plan to ease congestion, particularly in South Kuta. Bali Police Operations Bureau Chief, Kombes Pol Soelistijono, explained that measures would include traffic diversions and closures in the Kuta, GWK, and I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport areas.
Denpasar Police Traffic Chief, Kompol Made Teja Dwi Permana, revealed that several roads in Kuta would be closed or diverted, including Jalan Kartika Plaza, Kuta Art Market, Jalan Raya Kuta, and Jalan Patih Jelantik.
“The southbound lane from Kartika Plaza will be diverted, and at Kuta Art Market, all vehicles will be redirected to the west. No vehicles will be allowed to enter Jalan Pantai Kuta,” Teja explained, as Detik reported.
Teja advised residents and tourists heading to Kuta Beach to park their vehicles in designated areas, which include Trisakti Field, Jalan Patih Jelantik, Sentral Parking, Bali Galeria Mall parking area, Waterbom Kuta parking area, and the Kuta Art Market parking area.
“From there, you can walk to Kuta Beach to celebrate New Year’s Eve in a more orderly manner,” he added.
Teja also noted that traffic on the Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai would likely become congested on New Year’s Eve. He assured that numerous officers would be deployed along this route to assist with traffic flow.
Traffic Jam Nightmare in Bali Last New Year (2023)
In 2023, the Bali Mandara Toll Road became a chaotic scene as thousands of vehicles were stuck in long traffic jams on their way to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
The queue stretched up to 1.5 kilometres, triggered by congestion at the Ngurah Rai roundabout and increased mobility across South Bali during the holiday period. The heavy traffic forced some travellers, including foreign tourists, to abandon their vehicles and walk to the airport with their suitcases in hand, desperately trying to catch their flights.
“We are working on Bali’s traffic management this year. Our main focus is to prevent the kind of traffic nightmare that occurred last year,” said Teja.
