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Authorities in Jakarta on Sunday called on commuters not to use Jalan Casablanca because of ongoing construction along the South Jakarta thoroughfare.

The head of Jakarta’s Public Works Office, Ery Basworo, urged motorists to bear with the city as it worked on a new elevated road that would eventually help relieve traffic in the area.

“Even without the construction work, Casablanca is already jammed,” he said. “That’s why the elevated road will enable people to bypass Casablanca and go straight to Mas Mansyur [in Tanah Abang].”

The new road is part of a traffic management project that aims to create two elevated bypasses, one linking Blok M and Antasari in South Jakarta and the other connecting Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta to Kampung Melayu in East Jakarta.

The city has budgeted Rp 1.3 trillion and Rp 800 billion ($144.3 million and $88.8 million), respectively, for the first phases of both projects.

The first phase of the Blok M-Antasari bypass will run 5.5 kilometers from Cipete Market to the National Police field.

The first phase of the Tanah Abang-Kampung Melayu bypass will run 3.5 km from Casablanca to Jalan H. Kyai Mas Mansyur.

Ery said motorists were encouraged to take alternative routes around the Casablanca area. He suggested Jalan Denpasar, Jalan Bendungan Hilir, Jalan Dukuh Atas, Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said and Jalan Saharjo.

For those who have to go to destinations along Jalan Casablanca, he suggested they cut through Mega Kuningan or the Setiabudi and Karet areas.

Motorists are also advised to take Jalan Karet Pedurenan next to the Russian embassy.

Ery said roadworks on Jalan Casablanca would be kept to a minimum. “Casablanca still has two lanes each,” he said. “It’s a bit smaller, but it’s still two lanes.”

According to Ery, the main work on the foundations for the project would take between six and eight months to complete before the less obstructive work on the pylons would begin. “The trucks would come between 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. to carry these parts so traffic is not disrupted any further,” he said.

Additionally, Ery said there was a possibility that TransJakarta busway routes would make use of the elevated roads.

The elevated roads are scheduled to be finished by July or August next year.

Jakarta’s Traffic Police Chief, Sr. Comr. Royke Lumowa, meanwhile, said he had requested the Public Works Office finish all work on the foundations in the next three months.