New bridge planned for key Indonesia link

A feasibility study worth US$199 million will be carried out for the planned Sunda Straits Bridge in Indonesia. The bridge itself is expected to cost close to $20 billion to construct. It will be of major economic importance for Indonesia by providing a direct road link between the islands of Sumatra and Java. The link will connect Sumatra directly to Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, and the bridge is expected to be 27km long in all. The Sunda Straits Bridge will actually be a series of links connecting the smaller Indonesian islands of Prajurit, Sangiang and Ular directly with the larger islands of Sumatra and Java. The five main sections making up the expected route will measure some 5.4km, 4km, 6.5km, 6.5km and 4.9km, from Sumatra to Prajurit, Prajurit to Sangiang, across Sangiang Island Sangiang to Ular and Ular to Java respectively.

The bridge is likely to feature six lanes in all for vehicles and with three in each direction, as well as a twin track railway. Meanwhile five state-owned firms look set to be involved in the construction of the bridge. The companies are 5207 Wijaya Karya, Waskita Karya, 5204 Pembangunan Perumahan, 5206 Hutama Karya and 5205 Adhi Karya and are planning a consortium to handle the project. The project does face some major engineering challenges and one of the most significant is the risk of earthquakes in the region, with previous earthquakes having caused enormous damage and having triggered devastating tsunami. However when the bridge is open it will help deal with the extensive traffic bottlenecks in Sumatra and Java, with the latter being the most densely populated island in the world. Journey times between Java and Sumatra, as well as Prajurit, Sangiang and Ular, will be significantly reduced from the ferries used on these routes at present.