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CURRENT STAGES

Indonesia has been long criticed, especially under the New Order government, for moving their people from crowded islands of Java and Bali to Sumatera, Papua and Sulawesi under the transmigration program. Human rights activists claimed that the program has endangered the lives of the indigenous people, despite the fact that the practice had been done by the Dutch colonialist for centuries.

Now Indonesia ceases the program and encourages more voluntary migration. This is not an easy job, but the government believes that one of the solutions is building a super bridge which connects the two most dynamic islands, Java and Sumatera. If happened it would be the world's longest suspension bridge across Sunda Strait, passing about 50 kilometres from the active Krakatau volcano, traversing 29 km length.

The Java–Sumatera Super Bridge is needed because the traffic across the two islands is so very high that current ferry transport system will not be able to meet the growing demand. In 2002, more than 19,000 ton of goods from Sumatera Island are transported to Java Island through Lampung Province per day. Besides, more than 25,000 people and 6,000 vehicles per day such as truck, bus, private cars and motorbike pass Sunda Strait. During the Eidul Fitr holiday, the number could increase sharply to about 85,000 people and 11,500 vehicles.

Traffic Jam in Merak on September 2007

The bridge would significantly cut the travel time between the Islands from around 3 hours to about 30 minutes only. Some 20 million people crossed the strait in 2006 and the figure is forecast to double by 2020. It would relieve mounting pressure on Java, home to 145 million people. With the new bridge, the equity of growth of population between the two islands could be achieved.

The suspension bridge will have six lanes for vehicles and two railway tracks. The bridge will be raised 70 meters above the surface of the sea and will span 29 kilometers over three small islands: Prajurit, Ular, and Sangiang.

If completed, as many as 160,000 vehicles (maximum) per day expected to use the bridge. The bridge would also be able to alleviate chronic traffic congestion at the strait as well as significantly cut the journey time, and not to mention the economic benefits arised from those activities.

A pre-feasibility study will be completed by 2009. It will take three more years to conduct the feasibility study before the construction process that will begin in 2012. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2025.
As the bridge is located in the Sunda Strait, which is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis, its construction would include four important phases involving hydrographic, oceanographic, geologic, seismological, climatological and environmental aspects.
Experts said the bridge was technologically feasible, but extensive and expensive safety measures would be essential to withstand earthquakes. Several quakes measuring more than seven on the Richter scale have struck waters of Sumatera and a stronger quake caused a massive tsunami of the west coast in 2004.
According to senior design consultant, Prof. Dr. Wiratman Wangsadinata, flexible construction materials would be used to protect the bridge against earthquakes of up to nine magnitudes based on the planned Messina Strait Bridge in Italy.
Still according to PT Wiratman & Associates, the development of the Java-Sumatera Super Bridge is feasible based on:

1. Cheaper than any other alternative, as proven from the study of Stretto in Messina, Italy;
2. Faster return of investment;
3. Absorbing many labors;
4. Low risk of working accident;
5. Cheaper operational and maintenance cost (than undersea tunnel);

At the moment the government is preparing a Presidential Decree which will assign the Ministry of Public Works to conduct further study about the feasibility of the projects taking into account the technical aspects and its economic benefits within one year. Once the study is completed, a national authority agency will be established to start materializing the project.

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It is estimated that the cost to construct the bridge would be around USD 10 billion, and the total operational cost USD 50 million / year which consist of operational, management, insurance, security, and income tax, with the assumption of the escalation rate 6% per year. The government will provide some 5 % of the total cost and the rest will be offered to investors.

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1. In conclusion, the development of the Java-Sumatera Super Bridge is feasible from the aspects of technology, financial and economic rationale. The bridge will connect the two most dynamic regions in Indonesia and will contribute to the advancement of the economic development in Indonesia.
2. The role of investor is quite significant. It is a long term and a very high cost investment and therefore the government should offer prospective investor(s) with other benefits on schemes.
3. The Java-Sumatera Super Bridge will bring multiplier effects to the Indonesian economy. Tourism industry, mining, agrobusiness, different types of services will benefit from this world class infrastructures.
   
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