NUWAKOT: The Nepali Army has expedited the construction of an Acrow bridge over the Tadi Khola at Devighat, connecting Devighat in Bidur Municipality-5, Nuwakot, with Jiling in Belkotgadhi Municipality-8.
Construction of the bridge began to restore the disrupted road connection between Nuwakot and Dhading via Belkotgadhi after floodwaters from the Bhotekoshi River entered the Tadi Khola and damaged two concrete bridges in the area.
The bridge is being constructed by the Bridging Unit under the Shree 14th Battalion of the Nepali Army, with the target of bringing it into operation within five days, according to Senani Chirinjibi Chaulagain, who is leading the construction team.
Chaulagain said that all bridges along the affected routes in Nuwakot and Rasuwa were damaged or swept away by the Bhotekoshi floods. Following a technical assessment, the Devighat site was selected as the first location for bridge installation.
Technical studies have also been carried out at five other locations in Nuwakot. Once the Devighat bridge is completed, the Army plans to install another Acrow bridge at Betravati to restore the road connection between Nuwakot and Rasuwa.
“The Devighat bridge is being constructed on a priority basis so that old jeeps can be used to transport construction materials and traffic can resume from Devighat in Nuwakot to the district headquarters, Bidur, via Galchhi in Dhading,” Chaulagain said. “A team of 55 personnel has been deployed around the clock with the target of completing the bridge within five days. Construction began on Saturday.”
The Nepali Army has also stated that three existing bridges under the Bhairav Battalion in Gajuri, Dhading, will be used to restore transportation in the flood-affected areas of Nuwakot and Rasuwa. The Army has three bridges, each measuring 75 meters in length, available for deployment.
The Acrow bridge being constructed at Devighat will be 57.5 meters long and 5.5 meters wide. According to Chaulagain, the bridge will have greater strength and load-bearing capacity than a conventional Bailey bridge and will be capable of carrying loads of up to 70 tons.
“The Acrow bridge is a modern American adaptation of the Bailey bridge technology and is expected to be about three times stronger and more durable,” he said. “Its high-quality galvanized American steel and reinforced steel decking will allow for a wider structure with greater load-bearing capacity.”
Transporting construction materials from Gajuri to Nuwakot via Kathmandu has created logistical challenges. However, the Army aims to complete the bridge within five days, provided there are no disruptions in transporting materials to the construction site and work can continue without interruption.
A team of 55 technicians and other personnel led by a soldier from the Bridging Unit under the Shree 14th Battalion has been deployed to carry out the construction work.
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