40th span of Padma Bridge installed, only 1 more to go

A total of 6 kilometres of the Padma Bridge is now visible following the installation of 40th span on Friday.

This completed 91% construction of the main bridge with an overall progress of over 82%.

A total of 41 spans will be installed on 42 piers — 20 spans at Jajira end and another 20 spans have been installed at the Mawa end with the installation of 40th span, reports BSS.

Of the double-decker Padma Bridge, some 2,917 road slabs will also be installed on the span for moving vehicles and 2,959 railway slabs along with 1,312 iron guarders will be installed on the lower portion of the bridge for railway communications.

Construction works of the bridge began in December 2015. The first span of the bridge was installed on September 30, 2017.

The Padma Bridge is the biggest infrastructure since the independence of Bangladesh, which was initiated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The construction of the main bridge is being made by China Major Bridge Engineering Company (MBEC), a Chinese contractor Company, and the river management is being done by Sino Hydro Corporation of China.

The 6.15 km long bridge will be opened to the public on December 2021.