Truck Driver Protest at Ketapang Port Causes 3.5km Traffic Jam Near Gilimanuk, Bali

On Sunday morning, September 27, 2026, a long queue of vehicles formed heading toward Gilimanuk Port in Jembrana Regency, the crossing point from Bali to Java. The cause was a protest by thousands of truck drivers at Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi, East Java, on the opposite side of the strait, which led to the closure of port entry access.

As of 9:15 AM local time, the queue of vehicles coming from the Denpasar direction had reached the area of the Gilimanuk Sea Crossing Monument, stretching approximately 3.5 kilometers. Police Chief of the Gilimanuk Port Area, AKP Gusti Kade Alit Mudiarsa, stated that despite significant vehicle buildup, security and public order in the port area remain under control.

According to him, the congestion is a direct consequence of the blocked inbound flow at Ketapang Port, and the situation on the ground remains relatively safe and conducive. In response, Jembrana Police have deployed additional personnel from the Traffic Unit (Satlantas) and the Community Order Unit (Satsamapta) to congestion-prone points to manage traffic and prevent further pile-ups.

Police have urged drivers, particularly logistics truck drivers and private vehicle owners, to remain patient, follow instructions from officers on-site, and avoid cutting into lanes to prevent worsening the congestion. Coordination between Jembrana Police, port authorities, and relevant agencies in Banyuwangi continues intensively, with ongoing monitoring along the main Denpasar-Gilimanuk route to anticipate further developments in traffic flow leaving Bali.