In a major development, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Monday completed Dhan Gali Bridge at a cost of rupees 1.012 billion across River Jhelum in the upper reaches of Mangla Reservoir, about 45 kilometres from Rawat at Islamabad-Dudial Road.
Wapda spokesman said that after the completion of approach roads, the bridge is likely to be opened for traffic by end of June 2011. He said the Dhan Gali Bridge is a part of compensation and resettlement package of Mangla Dam Raising Project. Wapda started construction in November 2008 by employing a state-of-the-art technology and completed work in a short span of two and a half years. It is a pre-stressed post-tensioned balanced cantilever box girder bridge with a total length of 1,116 feet, he apprised. He further said that the bridge is to accommodate two lanes with its roadway width of 28 feet.
Briefing about the completed project, Mangla Dam Raising Project General Manager, Rashid Ali Bangash said that construction of the bridge would open a new era of accelerated development for the entire region, as the bridge will provide an all-weather and all-traffic facility. Not only the distance between Dudial and Islamabad would reduce by 125 kilometres, but a minimum of two to three hours travel time would also be saved, he added.