By 2026, construction will begin on a new 6km section of the West Gatsu Highway in Changu district, including a 375-meter-long tunnel at a depth of 15 meters beneath residential buildings. This project aims to reduce traffic congestion in Changu, Tanah Lot and Mengwi district by providing a direct connection to the Mengwi Terminal in Mengwitani Village, one of the main bottlenecks of current traffic.
Bali's massive infrastructure modernization program
The West Gatsu project is part of an ambitious program to improve the island's transportation system. As part of this initiative, the following are planned:
- Construction of underpasses in Denpasar, including sections at Ahmad Yani Street, Tohpati Street and the Jalan Akasia connection to Padangalak Junction
- Creation of a new ring road connecting Jimbaran and Uluwatu to relieve congestion in the southern resorts
- Resumption of Trans Metro Dewata public transportation, suspended in January 2025 due to lack of funding
- Construction of the Bali Urban Subway, the first metro line connecting Ngurah Rai Airport to Cemagi and Nusa Dua, with a planned launch in 2028
The total budget for these projects is 5 trillion Indonesian Rupiah, funded jointly by the provincial and local governments.
