3rd span installed, 450 metres of Padma bridge visible now

(Drag the slide bar from left to right to see and compare the development of the ongoing construction of the Padma bridge)

The third span (superstructure) of the 6.15-km Padma bridge was installed at Jajira point of Shariatpur this morning. 

The 3140-ton span (number 7C) was placed between pear-39 and pear-40 around 9:00am, our Munshiganj correspondent reports quoting the project engineers.

With placing of the 150-metre long span, 450 metres of the bridge is now visible, the concern engineers said adding that they would place one span or more than that every month.

The installation work of the third span, out of 41, began at 6:00am. 

However, some more days will be needed to set the 3rd span permanently.

The first and second spans of the bridge were installed on September 30, last year, and January 28, this year. 

The construction work of the long-cherished Padma bridge started in December in 2015. It is expected to be completed by December next year.

The bridge, which will connect the country's southern region to the capital, will hugely boost communications and trade and economic activities.

The rail network linking the bridge with the capital through Mawa will not be completed if the bridge opens to traffic next year.

The government is building the bridge with its own fund as lending agencies cancelled loans over a graft allegation.