Padma Multipurpose Bridge will be ready for movement of vehicles by the end of next year as span installation work is going on keeping pace with the plan, said officials. According to an engineer of Padma Bridge Project, after the installation of the 14th span on Saturday, a total of 21000 meters of main structure of the 6.15-kilometre long bridge became visible.
On Saturday the 14th span of the bridge was installed on the 15th and the 16th pillars at Mawa point. “As the most important work on pile diving has already been completed, we are expecting that the Padma Multipurpose Bridge will be ready for movement of vehicles from next year,” the official said. Talking to Bangladesh Post an engineer of Padma Multipurpose Bridge said the 150-meter long 14th span has been installed on the 15th and the 16th pillars at Mawa point on Saturday afternoon.
He said installation of the span was scheduled for June 27 and June 28, but it was not possible due to unfavorable weather condition and also for silt deposition at the span-installation point. Mentionable, a total of 41 spans will be installed on 42 concrete pillars to complete the bridge, he added. According to the project details, the construction of the 6.15-kilometre long Padma Bridge is going on in full swing to complete it by set time.
On October 14, 2018, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiled the name plaque of Padma Bridge Toll Plaza at the Mawa end. According to experts, the national economy is expected to witness 1.2 percent GDP growth rate, while 0.84 percent poverty will be reduced every year after completion of the construction of the bridge at a cost of Taka 30,193.39 crore.
The first span of the Padma Bridge was installed on September 30, 2017. The second span was installed four months later on January 28, 2018 while the third one was placed on March 11, after one and a half months. Padma Bridge expert committee Chief Prf Jamilur Reza Chowdhury said pile diving was the major concern of the project which has been accomplished after hard work. Now construction work is going fast.
“After the installation of spans at Jajira point, distance from construction yard to next span-installation point is reduced now. As a result, the next span hopefully can be installed within next two or three days. As the construction of 13 piers is about to be finished, the dream bridge we hope will be opened for vehicular movement by December 2020,” he added.
