Skip to main content

The Nepalese authorities are now addressing structural problems on a series of important bridge links in the country

Major structural problems have been identified in several bridges in Nepal.
March 1, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Major structural problems have been identified in several bridges in Nepal. Construction work on seven large bridges in Nepal has been halted due to the problems arising in the pier construction.

Work has been stopped on bridges located at Ghurmi and carrying the Udayapur-Okhaldhunga road over the Sunkoshi River and at Khurkot carrying the Sindhuli-Manthali road over the Sunkoshi River. Work has also halted on a bridge in West Nepal carrying the Chnichu-Jajarkot road over the Bheri River, on the Tawa River bridge, the Siwai bridge, the Tadi bridge at Nuwakot and on the bridge over the Junga River at Dhanusa.

A bridge expert in Nepal says that due to geological conditions in Nepal, pier construction faces problems. The expert suggests that bridges with piers should be avoided in the country and that arched structures, though more expensive to build, are more suitable for the country's rugged terrain and would offer long term cost benefits through reduced maintenance needs.

Pier problems at the Bheri Bridge have resulted in it being replaced by a suspension bridge and this has been suggested as another suitable bridge design solution for the country. The issue is endemic, with the country's geology and geography playing a key role. Bridge scour is a serious problem in Nepal, due to the country's mountainous terrain, deep rock valleys and fast flowing rivers. 2664 Nepal's Department of Roads has issue a notice that a further seven bridges are in a serious condition and require repairs.

Bridges requiring repair are at Mugling carrying the Prithvi Highway, the Marsyangdi Bridge carrying the Aanbukhaireni-Gorkha road, the Seti bridge carrying the Khaireni-Bhimad road, the Jharahi bridge carrying the Mahendra highway and the Kaligandaki bridge carrying the Siddhartha highway. The other structures are the Bheri bridge carrying the Ratna highway, the Tamakoshi bridge carrying the Lamosanghu road, the Sunkoshi bridge carrying the Lamosanghu - Jiri road and the Tadi bridge carrying the Pasanglamhu road.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Bad roads make people poorer
    July 17, 2019
    India is said to be the fastest developing countries today only after China. Although India is doing excellently well in fields like education, industrialization, infrastructure, health, agriculture and fashion, there are still certain areas where the country is lagging behind. India's road network is gigantic and said to be only after the United States of America. But one of the striking underlying facts is the condition of the roads, around 30 percent of the country’s population lacked access to all-weath
  • New Bosporus crossing construction commencing
    June 3, 2013
    Work to construct the new Bosporus crossing in Turkey is now underway. This will be Istanbul's third bridge over the Bosporus and is aimed to open for traffic within two years. Construction is being carried out by a consortium that includes Italian company Astaldi and Turkish firm IC Ictas. The project is expected to cost in the region of US$5.83 billion. The bridge will carry eight highway lanes as well as two rail lines. When complete it will be longest suspension bridge in the world that carries rail lin
  • Driver distraction poses safety challenge
    June 5, 2015
    The modern automobile offers massive gains in safety over earlier generation vehicles. Occupant protection levels have been improved due to crash testing regimes that have ensured vehicles will not collapse catastrophically in the event of an impact. Braking systems are more effective and reliable, with ABS preventing skidding in wet weather conditions. The prospect of autonomous vehicles in the near future offer further safety gains to come. But right now, there is a problem. Too much technology is bein
  • California turns towards a Texas solution for u-turn design
    July 24, 2019
    The first so-called Texas U-Turn in the US state of California has opened as part of the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement project at Long Beach. The design enables trucks and other vehicles to make a safe and free-flowing U-turn at the west end of the project at the port access undercrossing, a second tunnel near the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and State Route 47 (SR-47) on Terminal Island. The Texas U-turn - named because it is a common feature at intersections in the state of Texas - enables ve