YANGON- The stake driving ceremony of Yangon-Dala project, which will be built as the Korea-Myanmar friendship bridge, will commence on December 1, according to the Ministry of Construction.
The main bridge structure of Yangon-Dala River Crossing Bridge has been approved and the new design of a bridge is being drafted by Korean Consultancy Firm.
“The main bridge design includes 49 meters of water clearance height and 370 meters in width. Plans are underway to start constructing the Korea-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in December,” said Deputy Director-General Kyaw Kaung Cho, from Bridge Department under the Ministry of Construction.
The Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Planning and Finance worked together and finalized the negotiations on the main bridge design.
The project is expected to cost US$ 168.173 million. Out of this amount, $ 137.833 million will be funded through a loan from Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund and the Ministry of Construction will absorb the remaining amount of $ 30.341 million.
More than 1000 people staged a protest in support of speedy construction of Yangon-Dala river crossing bridge in Dala Township on June 17. The news that the bridge could have been built since 6 years ago appeared. Some port businesspersons and the Ministry of Transport and Communications objected to the construction of the bridge, said the Dala residents.
Myanma Port Authority did not object to the bridge construction. It suggested the design not to hurt the port services, said Managing Director Ni Aung of Myanma Port Authority.
"We never objected to the construction of the bridge. We have frequently discussed the plan to construct the bridge with the Ministry of Construction. We suggested the bridge design must be the one not to hurt the port services," said Managing Director Ni Aung.
Upon completion of the bridge, it will contribute to socio-economic development of the local people from Dala, Twantay, Kawhmu and Kungyangon and Ayeyawady regions.
