Souvenir - Bangladesh Group of IABSE

The bridge carries a 4-lane roadway and two 1.5m wide sidewalks on its l4.6m wide deck. The structure is
l479m long which includes six river spans totaling 304m in length and shore viaducts and access ramps at
each end. Bored cast in-place RCC piles are provided at each pier location. Total length ofthe flyover is 712
meter and that of approach ramp is 463 meter.
No fixed crossing had existed until the first Buriganga bridge, known as Bangladesh-China Friendship
Bridge, was opened to traffic in 1990. The bridge, however, was built primarily to serve the Dhaka-Khulna
Road. Being located about 3km downstream from the business district, it did not assist in city's expansion
across the river or improve communication to the right bank areas with the Metropolis.
Sponsoring agency of the bridge was the Roads and Railways Division, Ministry of Communications
(MOC), People's Republic of Bangladesh. Roads and Highways Department was the executing agency.
International bids were invited in 1993 for a Design- Build contract. The Engineers Ltd, a local construction
firm, was the successful bidder. Government of Bangladesh appointed Bangladesh Consultants Ltd. as the
Design Check and Supervision Consultant in June 1994 for the bridge. The work commenced in August
1994.