The 51-metre bridge near Samdrupjongkhar Primary School will serve as a bypass for the travellers and help ease congestion along the highway.

The bridge was supposed to be completed by June this year.

Samdrupjongkhar Thrompon Karma Sherab Thobgyal said that failure to meet the deadline was due to monsoon that caused flood and difficulty in retrieving hanger cable.

He said that the hanger cable had to be designed especially for the bridge.

The part that needs working at the project is painting and cleaning up.

The project worth Nu 64.3 Million was awarded to Construction Development Corporation Limited (CDCL).

Karma Sherab Thobgyal said that the bridge would serve as an important landmark for Samdrupjongkhar as it is first of its kind in the country.

He added that thromde’s plan was to develop the area and build it into livable area away from the core city. “We also have plan for a water park project in the area. We are hoping to turn it into an exclusive area with amusement and entertainment area.”

Land has been provided near the bridge for the construction of housing colony, swimming pools, and other structures.

The bridge also shortens the route from Samdrupjongkhar town to the check point along the Samdrupjongkhar-Trashigang highway by about a kilometre. The bridge is also expected to ease traffic along the highway.

Although the bridge is expected to open to traffic soon, trucks with heavy lorries would not be able to ply through it due to a bailey bridge that connects the area from Samdrupjongkhar town. The bailey bridge has carrying capacity of just about 20 tonnes.

There is a plan to replace the bailey bridge with a concrete one. The construction project is expected to begin by December this year.

“As per our plan, the route is called Dungsum Drive as it runs along the Dungsamchhu. We have streetlights, footpaths, and other amenities along he road. This could be an area for the people to walk or drive,” Karma Sherab Thobgyal said.

Phurpa Lhamo