Our project to build an immersed tunnel aims to protect the environment, especially areas with animals that we must protect
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The task force overseeing infrastructure development in the new capital city (IKN) Nusantara is planning to build an immersed tunnel across Balikpapan Bay in Nusantara capital city.



"Our project to build an immersed tunnel aims to protect the environment, especially areas with animals that we must protect," head of the task force, Danis Hidayat Sumadilaga, informed at the Hutama Karya ExpertTalk webinar here on Thursday.



The task force decided against building a bridge and opted for constructing the immersed tunnel in order to preserve the environment, which is a priority. The tunnel would span across Balikpapan Bay and start at the end of the toll road.


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Sumadilaga said that the task force is currently conducting a feasibility study to determine the best alternative route for the immersed tunnel.



Immersed tunnel technology has been implemented in many countries, and examples of such tunnels include the Fehmarnbelt tunnel in Europe and Busan-Geoje Fixed Link tunnel in South Korea.



According to information provided on the official website of the Research and Development Center for Roads and Bridges of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), immersed tunnel technology is generally used to replace bridges that pass through wide water areas.


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Earlier, PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono had said that to connect IKN Nusantara with Balikpapan city, an immersed tunnel would be built in accordance with the forest city concept.



The government wants to protect proboscis monkeys, fauna, and other endemic flora around Balikpapan Bay. Therefore, the ministry will not build bridges that physically change the morphology of the environment, but will try to build an immersed tunnel similar to the Busan-Geoje tunnel in South Korea.



Following the feasibility study, the basic design for the immersed tunnel will be prepared later this year. The construction of the tunnel is scheduled to begin in 2023.


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Translator: Aji Cakti, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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