Bridges serve a vital link to connect communities and facilitate smoother trade of goods and services. In Pema Gatshel, commuters, especially truckers are eagerly awaiting the completion of the reinforced concrete pre-stressed box girder bridge over Marungri River connecting Shumar and Khar Gewogs. The bridge located along the Pema Gatshel-Nganglam secondary national highway is expected to open to traffic by the mid of next month.
The bridge is nearing completion. According to the Construction Development Corporation, the project is left with construction of railings, approach slabs, and blacktopping works.
Without a bridge, commuters must take a two-kilometre bypass road, which is on a steep slope.
Drivers say the bypass road is small and poses risk especially when heavy vehicles are carrying load.
“It is a big challenge. The bypass road is filled with potholes and is on a steep slope. And it becomes worse when it rains. I am hoping these problems will be solved when the bridge is complete,” said Dorji, a trucker.
“It is difficult to give way to oncoming vehicles on slopes. When heavy vehicles are carrying load, it is difficult to reverse and then pick up again. So, we travel carrying a lot of risk. We would be grateful if the bridge is completed at the earliest,” said Pema Laydra, another trucker.
According to the project manager, construction of the bridge would have been complete earlier if not for additional works at the site.
“We had to start our work during the COVID-19 pandemic, so we faced challenges in procuring materials. We had to do a lot of additional work like shifting the municipal suspension bridge. The old bailey bridge was not dismantled, so we had to do the dismantling work. That’s why these works delayed commencing the main work,” said Sangay Tshering, Project Manager of CDCL.
The construction of a 50-metre-long bridge started in February 2021.
The bridge worth about 50-million-ngultrum will benefit commuters travelling via the Nganglam-Gyalpozhing secondary national highway and the people of Khar Gewog.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Sherub Dorji
