Consortium to build Java-Bali bridge

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Scotia Bali Bridge Co. -- a consortium of PT Mitra Trans Balongan Indonesia, Scotia International Associates and Brown Beach & Associates Ltd of Britain -- will construct a five-kilometer suspension bridge linking Java and Bali.

"The Ministry of Public Works has granted the consortium a license to conduct a feasibility study on the bridge development. The study, started last month, will be completed within one year," East Java Governor Basofi Sudirman said here yesterday.

Basofi said that the bridge should help East Java benefit from the tourist arrivals to Bali, Indonesia's largest tourist attraction.

The project, which is expected to be completed in four years (excluding the one-year feasibility study), is part of the Tri Bima Nusa Sakti package ordered by President Soeharto in 1985.

Under the package, President Soeharto instructed Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie to build three long-span bridges linking Sumatra and Java, Java and Madura, and Java and Bali.

Basofi said that only two of the three bridge projects -- linking Java-Bali and Java-Madura -- have been confirmed.

The Java-Bali bridge will be part of the trans-Java highway and will be operated as a turnpike by the state-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga.

Due to the deep sea bed between the two islands, a suspension bridge was chosen as the most suitable and cost-effective form of bridge. (har/13)