The sick bridge!

The photograph and the accompanying report by your Lalmonirhat correspondent published on  December 16 represents the usual and sad saga of the authorities. The report said, "The bridge collapsed at least 40 times snapping road link in the last five years," as stated to the reporter by some R&H officials. Can we not set up a parallel temporary bailey bridge by army engineers and then thoroughly redo the steel superstructure over a period of say one year or even more, so that it becomes fit for regular traffic movement? Will this not be economic, rather than repeatedly fiddling with it, eight times per year on an average?

From your photograph, it appears that the main supporting structure is all right but the steel bridge deck superstructure is damaged. Will the relevant authorities look into the matter and ensure that the job is completed quickly?

Engr. S. A. Mansoor
Dhaka