Whenever you plan to travel from Bali to Java on your own, check the calendar. Public holidays or long weekends almost always lead to kilometres-long tailbacks at the ferry crossing. After the severe congestion during Lebaran 2026, the Bali authorities finally acknowledged that the problem is starting to hurt tourism and the economy. That’s why they decided to redistribute traffic flows.
Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has proposed building four logistics ports in different parts of the island: Celukan Bawang and Sangsit in the north, Amed in the east, and Gunaksa in the south. The aim is to take freight traffic off the main highway and divert it to alternative routes.
The issue is that lorries were the main cause of the traffic jams in March 2026. At times, traffic practically came to a standstill because of them. The authorities say they tried to restrict these vehicles during the holiday period, but because there were no alternative routes, they still ended up on the road.
Koster calls logistics the key cause of the congestion. Traffic from Java is growing, especially after the toll roads have almost reached Banyuwangi. Tourists are increasingly driving to Bali in their own cars instead of flying, which adds pressure on the infrastructure.
At the moment, almost all freight goes through a single crossing — Ketapang–Gilimanuk. Lasarus, head of the parliamentary transport committee, admits that both ports are already operating beyond their capacity. In these conditions, regulating the flow becomes impossible.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has backed the idea of redistributing freight. The first stage will start with Celukan Bawang Port, where Berth No. 1 will be extended by 92 metres and Berth No. 2 by 60 metres. This will allow the port to handle more vessels carrying different types of cargo and will partly relieve the main route.
Infrastructure will also be upgraded at the existing crossing. Ketapang already has additional facilities, but on the Gilimanuk side there is a lack of a matching berth. There is land available for construction, but funding is needed — around 300 billion rupiah.
The authorities want to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, ideally before the next Lebaran. In the best-case scenario, they want it in place by the New Year period to avoid another transport meltdown. In 2026, Bali expects to welcome around 12 million domestic tourists, many of whom will arrive on the island via Gilimanuk Port.
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