News
Roads
and
Highways
Department,
Bangladesh
launches
national
bridge
program
The Roads and Highways Department, Bangladesh has appointed SMEC along with ACE and SYSTRA S. A (France) to undertake detailed feasibility studies and design for 14 planned bridges across the country. The bridges will be long span design and four or more lanes wide.

These vital infrastructure investments have been separated into two separate packages of work. The central-northern package will focus on eight bridges located in the remote Mymensingh Division in the north of the country. The southern package will prepare designs for six new bridges across the Barishal, Chattogram and Khulna divisions.

 

Mymensingh Division

The Mymensingh Division is approximately 120km north of Dhaka. It is a major financial centre and education hub, and the economic growth in the area has put stress on the road traffic network. The Mymensingh bridges will establish an uninterrupted road network to significantly improve connectivity across key urban centres. Priority locations for this project include Brahmaputra and Someshwari, with Someshwari Bridge-3 assigned as one of the Prime Minister’s priority projects. Proposed locations include Brahmaputra, Mahadev, Gandeshwari, Someshwari (x2), Nitai and Ishwarganj Uchakhila-Ahmedabad Bazar-Trishal (x2).

 

Barishal, Chattogram and Khulna Divisions

The southern bridges are located south of Dhaka, the country’s capital. The six bridges will cross six different rivers. The proposed locations have been identified to maximise socio-economic potential of the region and include Atai, Chandragona, Khuruskul, Banaripara, Lazmipasha and Mirgonj. Banaripara and Mirgonj bridges have been identified as priorities for this project.

 

Maps of proposed bridge locations

 

A formal signing ceremony took place on 29 January 2023, attended by key personnel from Roads and Highways Department, Bangladesh and representatives of the joint venture project team from SMEC, SYSTRA Group and ACE Bangladesh. Members from each of these organisations will coordinate works from a shared office in Dhaka. Honourable chief guest, Mr. Md. Ishaque – Chief Engineer, Roads and Highways Department, Bangladesh conveyed best wishes to the consultant team for successful completion of the project.

 

Key personnel attend the signing ceremony