Padma Bridge: 27th span installed

The 27th span of much-anticipated Padma Bridge was installed yesterday, making more than four kilometres of the bridge visible.

The span was installed linking 27th and 28th pier at Janjira end around 9:20am yesterday, Dewan Md Abdul Kader, project manager (main bridge), told The Daily Star.

The span was taken to the spot on the river from Kumarbhogh Construction Yard-1 a day earlier, he added.

The development came when the country is facing virtual lockdown with operation of all types of public transports suspended, and public and private offices closed.

Moreover, 60 to 70 local workers involved in the project left workplace due to the coronavirus situation, a project official said.

"Our works are going on with limited workers," he said, wishing anonymity. Out of 667 Chinese nationals involved in the main bridge works, more than 550 are now working, he added. The 6.15km bridge would have a total of 42 piers and 41 spans. Of them, construction work of 41 piers have already been completed.

Asked about the last incomplete pier, Kader said they are hopeful to complete the work within mid-April.

Thirty-nine spans have arrived from China, 27 of which have been installed now.

But the company in China constructing the remaining two spans remained closed for a long time due to the Covid-19 outbreak. About the rest two spans, Kader said, "The ships carrying those are expected to start from China on April 20."