Padma Bridge’s first span installed

The first span of the Padma Bridge has been installed on pillars around 9am on Saturday.

Project Director Shafiqul Islam confirmed the matter to the Jagonews24.com.

The 150-metre long superstructure weighing around 32 tonnes was placed on pillars 37 and 38 at Jazeera point.

The 6.15 kilometres bridge will have 42 pillars, including two on the river banks.

Officials and engineers said four more spans would be placed in October.

The construction work of the long-cherished Padma Bridge started in December in 2015.

Until now, around 47 percent of the around Tk 288 billion project is complete.

The government expects to finish the project by December next year.

The bridge, which will connect the country's southern region to the capital, will hugely boost communications and trade and economic activities.

The rail network linking the bridge with the capital through Mawa will not be completed if the bridge opens to traffic next year.