Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has revealed all the piers on the China Maldives Friendship Bridge have been connected via the concrete bridge deck.
The concrete bridge deck now covers a 540 metre area from the end of Male' city, stated Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The Housing Minister revealed contractors are now installing steel box girders beams on the bridge and the work of the deck are fast underway. The first two pillars of the superstructure of the bridge were connected last month.
The government aims to complete the construction of the super structure of the bridge by July 9. The China Maldives Friendship Bridge is 1.39 kilometre long, 20.3 metre wide and will have two car lanes and separate lanes for bicycles, motorcycles, and pedestrians, and is scheduled to open in August 2018.
The largest infrastructure development project cost over USD 210 million, of which USD 126 million are funded by the government of China as grant aid. The government of Maldives has also initiated a project to develop the roads connected to the bridge, as part of the efforts to ease the traffic flow of the area.