The Bridge Department of the Ministry of Construction implemented the Uru Bridge upgrade project in Sagaing Region. It is scheduled to complete by the end of March 2022, according to the ministry.
The Uru Bridge located on Thekkekyin-Phaungpyin- Hkamti road of Hkamti District of Sagaing Region was constructed across the Uru River using K4 billion of Union budget. Currently, the Bridge Construction Task Force (2) of the Bridge Department conducts the upgrade work with eight experienced engineers including the Director of Bridge Construction Task Force (2), and more than 80 workers.
“Our aim is to facilitate the transportation, and we conducted the bored pile foundation using new technology next to the old bridge so that the vehicles can pass the old suspension bridge. The vehicles can use the old bridge till today. We will start the deck construction process and replacement of the plate girder in early October. We estimated to complete the operation in March 2022 mini-budget. Currently, we complete 70 per cent of operation,” said Director U Aung Thiha of Bridge Department.
The new Uru Bridge is 1,090 feet long and 26 feet wide and has a 3-foot-wide pedestrian on each side. The waterway clearance of the bridge is 135 feet in width and 22 feet in height. It can withstand 60-tonne loads.
The steel trusses will be used for the bottom portion and approach. The bored piles with a diameter of 1.8 metres will be also drilled. Moreover, it will contain four 135 feet long plate girder spans, according to the Bridge Construction Task Force (2).
The old bailey bridge has weight restrictions due to ageing and allows only 13-tonne trucks.
Currently, the government starts the upgrade of the bridge, which will withstand 60-tonne vehicles, to provide the trade flows of the Sagaing Region with a proper transport system.
The upgrade works were operated in January 2021. When the operation is finished, it will be good for the trade flows of the region and it will be also easy for the locals to travel to the upper part of the Sagaing Region, according to the Construction Ministry. — Pwint Thitsar/GNLM
