Published on Sunday, 28 September 2014 13:51
Vehicular movement obstructed by Jure landslide has resumed on Kodari Highway on Nepal-China border, as Nepal Army has completed installation of an Acrow Bridge on Sunday, September 28.
According a statement released by NA on Sunday, the Acrow Bridge connects Dhuskun and Barabise Village Development Committees (VDCs) in Sindhupalchok district.
“NA started constructing base for the Acrow Bridge on September 17 to resume transportation. As a result, the Acrow Bridge has come into operation for public use at 3:15 p.m. today,” says the statement.
The Acrow Bridge is 120 feet long, 5.5 meter wide and has the capacity of carrying vehicles weighing up to 30 tons.
Earlier, vehicular movement resumed from Khadichaur to Sunkoshi portion of the Highway under the NA’s initiatives. “The vehicular movement has now completely opened.”
There was a huge crowd of locals when the Acrow Bridge was inaugurated today. The locals welcomed NA personnel involved in the construction and the vehicles passing through, with garlands and khada shawls.
On July 1, 2014, the U.S. Embassy in Nepal handed over four Acrow Bridges worth US$ 6.7 million to NA for use during natural disasters, according to a statement by the Embassy.
ACROW bridges are built from ready-to-assemble components that can be changed to meet a wide range of uses in Nepal. The bridges will be important for keeping open the line of vital supplies during a disaster.
The bridges can be used as temporary detours or permanent moveable bridges. The bridge design allows it to be changed in length and width with minimal equipment. The bridges can also be transported by truck.
The bridges arrived in Thankot on April 8, in Narayanghat on May 4, in Jitpur on May 16, and Gajuri on June 30. Five NA personnel attended a week-long training course for the assembly and maintenance of the bridges at the ACROW facilities in New Jersey, the USA and will serve as trainers for other NA units, added the Embassy statement.