After two days of frantic attempts the 34th span of the Padma Bridge was finally installed on Sunday. As a result, more than 5 km of the entire structure of the bridge is now visible.
Earlier on Saturday, after a day-long effort, the installation of the 34th span of the Padma Bridge was postponed due to strong winds and lack of adequate visibility.
The span number ‘2A’ was installed between pillars 7 and 8 at Mawa point, six days after the last one was set up. With the new one, a total of three spans have been placed on the bridge this month.
Executive Engineer (Bridge) Dewan Md Abdul Quader confirmed the matter and said that at around 4pm on Saturday, a crane ship started work to lay span on the pillars from the Mawa construction jetty, but it was too dark to work smoothly when it reached near the pillars.
“That’s why, work of span installation is completed today (Sunday) morning,” he added.
The 35th span is to be set up on the banks of Padma river in Mawa on October 30. The other 6 spans will be installed on the pillars by December this year.
A total of 42 pillars are being constructed for the 6.15 km long two-storey Padma Bridge.
Of these, 21 will be at Mawa and 21 at Jazira. A total of 41 spans will sit on these 42 pillars.
Construction of the Padma Bridge began in December 2014. The Padma Bridge became visible on September 30, 2017 with the installation of the first span on poles 36 and 37.
China Major Bridge Engineering Company (MBEC) is working on the main bridge, and Sino Hydro Corporation is working on river management.
Local construction company, Abdul Momen Limited has constructed two connecting approach roads and infrastructure. The Padma Bridge is expected to be inaugurated and opened for public in 2021.