The introduction of recent proposed tunnel work in Indonesia

Abstract

The initial concept of linkage infrastructure system, called Nusantara Tunnel, was to connect Java as an industrial zone and Sumatera as a provided basic commodity zone. The idea was followed up by a series of preliminary studies and surveys by domestic and international institutions. Nevertheless, real construction actions have never been initiated. The main reason to put this connecting infrastructure aside is a classical factor of the financial matter. However, the construction of this linkage system is urgent, since the existing ferry system, will become unmanageable to serve people, vehicles, cargos, and goods in coming years. The traffic in Sunda Strait is dense; a report in the year of 2002 has shown that the flow from Merak Port in Java to Bakauhuni Port in Sumatera has achieved 4.81 million passengers and 1.18 million vehicles. The prediction of a moderate growth rate of 3% will result the overflow of 8.93 million people and 3.09 million vehicles. Even with the existing ferry system, a bottlenecking has frequently seen and will become a serious problem in the future. The paper presents a proposal of an integrated system for the linkage infrastructure with regional development, particularly in the related provinces Lampung (in Sumatera) and Banten (in Java) with encouraging the growth of economy and social of these areas. The Sunda Strait infrastructure connects the two islands will be also as an important point for Asian Highway and Asean Highway. The Sunda Strait is potentially affected by the tectonic activity which is located in the transition zone resulted from the movement of two major plates, namely Indian-Australian, and where the Anak Krakatau volcano is located as well. The safe zone between the fault of Sukadana-Gede Mountain and Rajabasa-Danau at the southern with 15 km wide and 20-60 m deep is the area where the tunnel will be constructed. The total length of the tunnel will be 33 km, where 26 km is under the sea bed. The tunnel will be bored in the safe zone, 40 m below the seabed, maximum of 70 m below the sea water level. The tunnel will appear on the surface 3.7 km from the Sumatera coast line in Lampung and 3 km from the Java coast line in Banten. This tunnel is designed to transport electric car trains that move passengers, cars, buses, trucks, trailers, and combination trucks. It is reasonable to be accepted that the train tunnel is the lesser capital investment and better system for both passengers and cargos comparing to the road tunnel. In addition to the electric train system, the tunnel will function as the multipurpose tunnel as well, which is used to accommodate facilities for oil and gas, coal slurry, extra high power transmission, and telecommunication lines. The journey using the train through Nusantara Tunnel is designed to take about 60 min in total, which consist of 15 min for loading, 30 min for the trip across Sunda Strait in the tunnel, and the rest 15 min for unloading. (A) Reprinted with permission from Elsevier. For the covering abstract see ITRD E124500.