The Bali Strait Bridge (Indonesian: Jembatan Selat Bali, JSB, is a proposed road and railway megaproject between the two Indonesian islands of Java and Bali across the Bali Strait. The Bali Strait Bridge is envisioned as a critical infrastructure project connecting the islands of Sumatra (had the Sunda Strait Bridge proposal went through), Java, and Bali, providing a continuous and elevated route over both land and sea. The design of the bridge accounts for the challenging conditions of the Bali Strait, known for its high waves and strong currents.[1]
The suggestion for a bridge was reportedly first put forward in 1960 by Professor Sedyatmo from Institut Teknologi Bandung as a part of broader plans, known as Tri Nusa Bimasakti, to link the three islands of Sumatra, Java and Bali.[2] The Indonesian Government is planning the design of the bridge but there is no official date for construction yet.[3] [4] [5] [6]
Chairman of Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) Jembrana Regency, I Komang Arsana rejected the construction of the Bali Strait bridge. According to him, judging from the history of Bali Island, which in the mythology of Dang Hyang Sidimantra deliberately disconnects Bali Island with Java Island. From Balinese Hindu mythology that has been included in the history of Bali, according to him in sekala and niskala, Bali and Java from the beginning have been made in such a way, must be limited by the sea which is one of the filters so that negative things and bad influences from outside Bali and everything from outside Bali become easier to monitor.[7]