Alexander Bolonkin and Richard Cathcart, independent researchers with a history of innovative engineering proposals, have unveiled a bold concept aimed at revolutionizing cross-strait transportation in Indonesia. Their proposed Java-Sumatra Aerial Mega-Tramway (JSAMT) is a self-elevating aerial tramway designed to span the Sunda Strait, connecting the islands of Sumatra and Java. This ambitious project aims to provide a cost-effective and efficient method for transporting passengers and cargo across the strait, utilizing standard winged shipping containers similar to those used in international trucking and ocean shipping.
The JSAMT is envisioned as a self-sustaining toll facility, eliminating the need for international loans or funding guarantees for its construction. This financial independence is a key aspect of the proposal, as it would allow the project to be viable without relying on external financial support. The researchers suggest that the implementation of the JSAMT would also obviate the need for the expensive and logistically challenging Nusantara Tunnel, which has been proposed as an alternative means of connecting the two islands.
The technical specifications of the JSAMT are still in the formative stages, but Bolonkin and Cathcart have outlined some of the basic concepts. The tramway would operate using two conveyor belt-like facilities, which would launch passengers and cargo across the Sunda Strait. The use of standard winged shipping containers would ensure compatibility with existing international shipping and trucking infrastructure, making the system easily integrable into current logistics networks.
The researchers have also considered the physical and cultural geographical factors that would underpin the JSAMT. The Sunda Strait, with its significant maritime traffic and strategic importance, presents both challenges and opportunities for such a mega-engineering project. The successful implementation of the JSAMT could pave the way for similar aerial tramways in other strategic locations, such as the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Bering Strait by the mid-21st century.
Bolonkin and Cathcart’s proposal is a testament to the potential of innovative engineering solutions to address complex transportation challenges. By leveraging existing technologies and infrastructure, the JSAMT could offer a sustainable and efficient means of connecting Sumatra and Java, setting a precedent for future mega-engineering projects worldwide. Read the original research paper here.