The much-anticipated Gelephu Urban Corridor Road has officially opened, bringing immense relief and joy to the local commuters. Although vehicles had been permitted to use this route, some of the road development words such as blacktopping remained incomplete. The construction of the 2.6-kilometre road began in 2020.
For years, travelers have faced numerous challenges navigating the old route, especially during heavy rains when the swollen Ipole stream would make the road impassable.
The bailey bridge over the Ipole stream was washed away in 2010 due to a flash flood, and since then, a temporary bypass was the only solution.
However, the newly constructed road that has been blacktopped recently with a new arch bridge over the Ipole stream completed last year will make travelling significantly smoother and more reliable.
Tashi Dorji, a taxi driver in Gelephu said, “In the past, whenever there was heavy shower, we would get stranded for about an hour because the Ipole stream would swell up.”
Similarly, Dhan Badhur Tamang, a local resident said, “It has become very convenient now. The old route didn’t have a bridge, it got swept away by the swollen river about a year ago.”
Another taxi driver Pema said, “Compared to the past, it has become quite convenient because with the old route, we had to drive over unpaved bumpy road and without a bridge, we had to use the bypass which would take more time.”
Despite the excitement, authorities have issued a request for heavy vehicles. The new arch bridge can withstand a load of up to 60 metric tonnes. Gelephu Thrompon Tshering Norbu advises heavy vehicles carrying loads beyond this limit to use the old route.
“Heavy vehicles with load beyond 60 metric tonnes will not be allowed through this bridge. We have also spoken with the Police and the Bhutan Construction Transport Authority about restricting heavy vehicles carrying load above 60 metric tonnes from this bridge,” the thrompon said.
The construction of the Gelephu Urban Corridor road which runs from the fuel station to the Gelephu International Airport and including the arch bridge was carried out at a cost of more than Nu 230 M.
Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
