Small vehicles and mini vehicles were allowed to start passing through on August 20 afternoon as  newly-built Goattwin bridge on Mandalay-Lashio Union Highway between Kyaukme and Naungcho in the northern State State has been already reconstructed.

“Now, the bridge has been already reconstructed and small home-used cars and mini vehicles are allowed to begin passing through on the newly-built bridge. But big car trucks and mini passenger buses are not allowed passing through. The durability of the bridge has to be tested. Only if the durability of the bridge is tested, will it be commissioned into service,” said an official of Oriental Highways Company.

It is required to state durability of the bridge. The bridge has been already built. The durability of the bridge has been specified. The traffic police will follow the instructions of Shan State when the cars start passing through the bridge. The vehicles will be allowed to pass in rotation, said Police Caption Kyaw Kyaw Tun of No 122 Traffic Police Force.

About 100 vehicles on Naungcho side and about 250 cargo trucks on Kyaukme side were waiting for the date of opening the newly-built bridge as Goattwin bridge was blasted.

“We have to wait from Naung Pein since the day on which Goattwin bridge was blasted. We have to buy and eat the meals on the day which Goattwin bridge was blasted. Later, the people from the village near Naung Pein came to distribute packets of rice and curry to our drivers,” said a truck driver who was stranded near Goattwin bridge.

Translated and Edited by Win Htut