No span of the Padma Bridge was placed in the last three months, after Jun 29. The first placement was on Sept 30, 2017. On 42 piers, 41 spans will be placed and concerned authorities say that due to ferocious currents, the work is temporarily halted.
Over viaducts on both sides of the river, there will be 14 railway spans and a total of 438 super T guarders.
Project director of Padma Bridge, engineer Shafiqul Islam, says: “The matter is technical; we are fighting against underwater current and currently, piling is going on both sides of the main bridge.”
The colour of the bridge will be golden but at night it will be illuminated on the colours of the national flag. Each span is fifty feet from the water level.
Bridges and transport minister, Obaidul Quader, says: “The work is underway and hopefully, before Jun 21, 2021, the bridge will be open.”
Bridge department secretary Anwarul Islam said: “Till Aug 28, the progress has been 73 percent and 83 percent work of the main bridge is done. Piling of all T piles is over with 100 percent road works.”
At present, guarders are being placed. For roadways, 2,854 slabs have been made and the work for the rest is going on. Already, Tk 87.32 billion has been spent and for river management Tk 41.84 billion of a contract rate of Tk 87.07 billion has been spent.”