Uluwatu's Evening Traffic Restrictions Are Now Official Policy
Drivers heading to Uluwatu's clifftop resorts and temples will need to adjust their routes permanently. The Badung Regency Transportation Agency (Dishub) and the local Traffic and Road Transportation Forum (LLAJ) have jointly confirmed that a traffic engineering scheme trialled across June in the Pecatu-Uluwatu corridor will be kept in place indefinitely, following a positive evaluation.
The decision was announced by Anak Agung Gede Rahmadi, Head of the Badung Transportation Agency, who told reporters that the evaluation showed the scheme was effective at reducing congestion on what he described as the only road with the capacity to reach Uluwatu.
How the New System Works
The scheme targets six intersections historically prone to gridlock, with two given priority: the Toya Ning II-Uluwatu Highway intersection and the Baler Setra-Blimbing Sari Highway intersection.
The core restrictions, active every day from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM WITA, are:
- Vehicles on Jalan Raya Uluwatu may not turn directly onto Jalan Toya Ning II.
- Vehicles coming from Jalan Toya Ning II toward Jalan Raya Uluwatu may only turn left toward Pecatu; turning right toward Ungasan is prohibited.
- Vehicles at the Baler Setra-Blimbing Sari intersection are prohibited from turning west onto Uluwatu Highway. This rule applies to all vehicle types except motorcycles.
- A new no-entry sign has been added at the junction of Jalan Raya Uluwatu and Gang Batu Nunggul, though that particular restriction does not apply during the evening operating hours.
Outside the 5 PM to 10 PM window, the turn prohibitions are lifted and traffic moves as it did before.
Enforcement with formal ticketing sanctions will follow once the Badung Regent's Decree providing the legal basis for the scheme is officially issued. Until then, the physical engineering and signage are in place but penalty fines are not yet active.
Community Response and Broader Context
Rahmadi noted that the evaluation drew on feedback from local communities and regular road users, and that the majority reported smoother, more comfortable journeys as a result of the trial. The scheme was developed collaboratively by the LLAJ Forum, Bali Class II BPTD, police, South Kuta District, village government, and local agencies.
Bali is currently in its high season, and authorities have signalled that similar traffic engineering solutions could be rolled out at other congested tourist destinations across the island over the coming year, building on the Uluwatu result.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Accommodation operators, villas, and restaurants in the Bukit Peninsula should update their guest arrival guidance immediately. The 5 PM to 10 PM window coincides precisely with sunset visits to Uluwatu Temple and the evening dining rush, meaning guests arriving or departing during those hours will face a different road layout than mapping apps may show. Sending guests a simple one-paragraph note with the correct approach routes from Denpasar, Kuta, or Sanur, and flagging that some turns are restricted after 5 PM, will prevent confusion and late arrivals. Hosts who work with private drivers should also brief them directly, since the new signage and turn rules may not yet be reflected in navigation software.
The details in this post were first reported by The Bali Sun on 8 July 2026.
First reported by Bali Travel.