Nikachhu and Zalamchhu bridges on the Wangdue-Trongsa highway is now open to traffic. The double-lane bridges also have a higher load carrying capacity.
Japan’s Consortium of Oriental Consultant Global Company and Ingerosec Corporation of Japan designed the bridges and the Dai Nippon construction company carried out the construction works.
The works began in May 2016 and was completed about five months before its scheduled deadline.
At the inauguration of the bridges yesterday, the works and human settlement minister Dorji Choden commended the Japanese contractors for their quality work. “As always Japanese provides the best of the best infrastructures and also in terms of the way they manage the work sites, the way they carry out the preparation works and the way they ensure the quality,” she said.
“These are all there for us to see and I am so happy that the bridge has been completed before the time set in the agreement.”
The Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Koji Yamada, said the bridges with an enhanced load carrying capacity would help in the transportation of heavy electro-mechanical equipment like transformer for hydropower projects.
“These two bridges are the bridges which Japan tried to construct at the highest altitude area in Bhutan,” JICA’s Chief Representative said.
“We had to check the quality of the cement for ensuring the quality of bridge structure. All types of vehicle can ply over these bridges at higher speed like 20 kilometers an hour.”
Including Nikachhu and Zalamchhu bridges, there are now about 21 Japanese constructed bridges in the country.
Another ongoing Japanese assisted bridge construction in Chuzomsa in Wangdue Phodrang is expected to be complete by June, while the construction of a new bridge on the Gelephu-Trongsa highway has begun.
The technical cooperation for the capacity development of the bridge construction and maintenance between Bhutan and Japan began in 2016.
