A year after the construction of the reinforced concrete (RC) arch bridge, the 94m-long bridge with a 54m-span over Thimchhu connecting Chugo Lam and Dechen Lam below the Royal Academy of Performing Arts is 46% complete.
The bridge construction which began in April 2017 is expected to be over by April 2019.
Works and Human Settlements Ministryโs Chief Engineer with the bridge division Karma Wangdi said the works are as per schedule as almost half of the work is complete but monsoon might delay it.
Karma Wangdi added that after the completion of the bridge, people residing in Taba, Dechencholing and Lanjophakha will be benefiting the most and it will also ease the traffic flow.
The construction period of the bridge is 24 months and the bridge will also have a 1.5m pedestrian footpath on both sides with two lanes. The bridge has a 7m carriage width and loading capacity of 70R.
The Government of India supported the bridge construction with a grant of Nu 80mn and the construction was awarded to Construction Development Corporation Limited.
Karma Wangdi said that due to construction work, many commuters will face traffic congestion. The challenge at the moment is that they do not have a disposal site for the sand dug out and it has to be disposed off at Pamtsho.
A Taba resident, Tandin Wangchuk said that previously the road was small and narrow but the new road construction will benefit the drivers and ease traffic.
Tsheringย from Thimphu
