Souvenir - Bangladesh Group of IABSE

At the start of construction a substantial dredging and filling operation was undertaken to bring the area
within the project land boundary to a level above the 1998 peak flood level and to provide fill material to the
bridge approach road embankments.
Before the new bridge was built, road traffic crossed the river by ferry, which often delay due to traffic
problems or river conditions. In 1995, a commitment was made by the Bangladesh government to improve
communications to stimulate the north-east region and provide a road bridge across the Meghna between
Bhairab and Ashuganj. In parallel, the existing Dhaka-Sylhet road was to be upgraded over its entire
length. A series of economic, social and engineering studies for the crossing were carried out. The
economics and need for the crossing were verified by the studies.
In 1997 a study was carried out on behalf ofthe UK Department for International Development (DFID) and
the Government of Bangladesh in which various aspects of the proposed bridge crossing were appraised
and recommendations were given for the design and construction of a new crossing.
The report concluded that a new dual two lane multi-span bridge should be constructed at Bhairab,
approximately 110m upstream of an existing steel truss railway bridge built over sixty years ago. The
proposed project should also include the construction of new highway approach embankments and
connecting roads and the provision of river training works and bank protection.
The report also concluded that procurement of the bridge should be by the design and build route, let under
the FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Design, Build and Turnkey.
Following a decision by the Government of Bangladesh supported by DFID to proceed with the
construction ofthe Bhairab Bridge Project, Halcrow was appointed Employer's Representative in August
1998 for Phase 1 of the project. This involved surveys and investigations, preparation oftender documents,
including firm design requirements, assisting with prequalification of contractors and evaluation of
contractor's tender submissions. To confirm the selected route alignment and to provide the maximum
freedom to the tenderer's designs, preliminary geotechnical, bathymetric and topographic surveys together
with mathematical and physical modeling ofthe river were carried out as part of the Phase 1 activities. The
land acquisition requirements for the project were also determined in this phase and a Social Action Plan to
mitigate adverse impacts was formulated in accordance with Government of Bangladesh and Organization
for Economic Corporation and Development (OECD) guidelines.
Contract documents for a design and build contract based on the FIDIC Orange Book conditions for
international design and build contracts were issued at the end of 1998 to five prequalified UK contractors.
Tenders were submitted in Spring, 1999 and a contract for the design and construction ofBhairab Bridge
was awarded to Edmund Nuttal Ltd of UK with Jacobs, Benaim and DDC as their designer team. The
project commencement date was 3November 1999.