Construction of Dala Bridge to continue despite COVID-19
22 APR 2020 - Source: Myanmar Times - The Dala Bridge project will continue despite the spread of COVID-19, according to the Bridge and Road Department under the Ministry of Construction. "Construction of Dala Bridge project will not stop. We didn't stop during Thingyan too," said chief engineer U Kyaw Kaung Cho.
The bridge is now 10 percent complete since construction began in December 2019. "Welding w is ongoing and boring on the Dala side is being carried out now, although the process has slowed as there are fewer crane operators available," U Kyaw Kaung Cho said.
Also known as the Myanmar – Korea Friendship Bridge, the bridge, expected to cost US$168 million (K257 billion), is being funded by a US$137.8 million loan from the South Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund and US$30.3 million from the government of Myanmar.
The cable-stayed bridge is expected to be 6,143ft in length, 49m in height, 151m in width and comprise of four lanes. It is expected to take 39 months to complete.
Once completed, the bridge will ease travel between downtown Yangon and Dala township and boost development in Dala, which is one of the poorest areas in Yangon.
The project was originally announced in May 2012, after former president U Thein Sein visited South Korea. In 2015, parliament approved the construction of the bridge. Construction of the bridge was expected to start in 2017, but work on the bridge faced delays because of disagreements about the project's measurements between the Ministry of Construction and Myanma Port Authority.
Later, the Ministry of Construction modified the design of the bridge to overcome disagreements about measurements. -Translated
