Nepal's new bridge link

Construction work is underway in Nepal on one of the biggest box-girder bridges ever built in the country. The bridge is located in Mid West Nepal and measures just over 1km long. This pre-stressed box girder bridge will carry two lanes of traffic and is 7.5m wide, with a 0.6m wide footpath on either side. It is expected to take five years to build and will replace a temporary pontoon bridge over the river, which has been installed during the dry season and used in the monsoon season. The new bridge crosses the Karnali River and is in Gulariya, around 25km west from the district headquarters of Bardiya, near the Indian border. Meanwhile work is also going ahead on Nepal's 1,776km mid hill highway project.The route will run through the hilly region connecting East and West Nepal. It will connect 25 of the country's 75 districts and a budget of US$16.8 million has been allocated for the work being carried out over the next three months. A further $23.6 million will be allocated for the next financial year. The two lane highway will feature an asphalt surface and is expected to take four years to complete. Funds have also been set aside for construction of the bridges that will form part of the highway.