20 bridges risky
All the 20 iron bridges on Charkhali-Mathbaria road under Bhandaria and Mathbaria upazilas of the district have become risky.
Recently, the longest iron bridge at Madarshi village in Bhandaria upazila collapsed as two stone- laden trucks got on it at the same time.
In June last year, another bridge collapsed at Gudighata village in Mathbaria upazila for the same reason.
The bridges have been in use for around 30 years, whereas the life-span of an iron bridge is 10 years, said Pirojpur Roads and Highways Department (RHD) Executive Engineer Md Nazrul Islam.
There are 20 bridges from Charkhali ferry terminal under Bhandaria upazila to CMB Bazar of Mathbaria upazila, and all of them are risky, Nazrul said, adding that the bridges were built in 1988.
Abul Hossain Howlader of Hetalia village said the 25-year-old iron bridge over Hetalia canal starts swaying when a bus or truck gets on it.
“All the bridges on Charkhali-Mathbaria road are risky as the plates of most of them have become damaged,” said Shafiullah Khan of Darulhuda village, adding that trucks loaded with wooden logs, stones, cement and other heavy materials get on the iron bridges at great risk.
Bus driver Shamim Hossain said he feels afraid when crossing any bridge on the Charkhali-Mathbaria road as it starts swaying as soon as he gets on it.
Engineer Nazrul said there are 100 iron bridges in the district, and they have sent a list of 43 bridges for replacing them with reinforced cement concrete girder bridges under Development Project Proposal, adding that other iron bridges will also be replaced step-by-step.
They will be able to complete the repair work of the collapsed bridge at Madarshi village within two weeks, he added.
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