The installation of all 41 spans of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge is likely to complete by December this year since the progress of the main bridge construction nears 90 percent, an official says.
“The progress of the main bridge construction is 88 percent, so far. If situations favour us all (41) spans will be installed by December," said Dewan Md Abdul Kader, executive engineer (bridge) of the Padma Bridge project, told Bangladesh Post.
All 41 spans have already arrived in the construction sites from China with assembling of 38 spans have been completed. As many as 31 spans have been installed so far, making 4.65 kilometer of total 6.15km of the bridge visible.
Dewan said, installing the spans stopped since water level began rising on June 24 due to flood. At present, the river’s water level and tide is not conducive to installing the spans.
Water level in the Padma River should be at 4.80 meters to install a span which is now at 5.4 meters. As water starts receding, installing spans will resume after the water level comes at a tolerable level. They hope to start installing the spans from mid-September, he added.
The executive engineer, however, said no work of the Padma Bridge construction ever stopped due to river erosion or any other reason.
Even when the coronavirus broke out, construction was under way maintaining health safety rules. However, rise in water lever due to floods and monsoon halted the installation of spans.
Apart from the main bridge construction, the progress of river management work is 73 percent. Some 870 out of 2,927 roadway slabs were installed, 1,400 out of 2,959 railway slabs and 195 out of 438 viaduct girders were installed, according to the project progress report.
Work of connecting roads and toll plaza on both side of the rivers has completed. The country's first access-controlled six-lane expressway has been opened. Slopping work is going on in different places in addition to river management and dredging.
An animal museum has been set up under the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project. Sample collection of animals and natural resources is underway at Dogachi Padma Bridge Service Area-1 in Srinagar, Munshiganj as part of biodiversity conservation activities under the supervision of the Bridge Division Authority. So far, samples of 2,222 animals have been collected from home and abroad.
Besides, construction work of a military farm for breeding, milk and meat production is underway on a 2,156 acre of land at Jajira point.
Once open for public, the Padma Bridge will connect 21 southern districts with the Dhaka, and, is expected to boost the country’s GDP by 1.2 percent.
China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Company Limited is constructing the main structure of the bridge.
