Bo Myat Tun Bridge, the national strength and pride of Myanmar
Yo So Eng
"Bo Myat Tun Bridge is the longest one out of the bridges already
built so far in Myanmar; of the over-180-foot-long bridges,it is the
101st one "
Bo Myat Tun ( A Myanmar Nation Hero who fought back to British for
Independence of Myanmar in Ayeyawady Delta Area)
Location Ayeyawady river between Thaungdan village in
Nyaungdon Township on the eastern bank and Kyeinbinse
village in Nyaungdon Township on the western bank
Type of Bridge (a) The upper structure is iron framework
(b) The lower structure is reinforced
concrete
Length 8,544 feet long
(a) 6164-foot-long main bridge
(b) 1000-foot-long approach structure on
the eastern bank of the river
(c) 1380-f00t-long approach structure on
the western bank of the river
Width 28-foot-wide motorway and two 6 foot-wide
pedestrian
Waterway Under the bridge is 360 feet wide and the
clearance,57 feet high
Project cost Kyat 5.565 billion with US$ 8.6 million
Project began 15 June 1996
Completed on 30 October 1999.
Opening on ( 15th November,99 )
Related News
The New Light of Myanmar
Tuesday, November 16, 1999
Senior General Than Shwe joins over 40,000 people at opening of Bo
Myat Tun Bridge 8544-ft bridge across Ayeyawady built at a cost
of over K 5565 million with $ 8.6 million Longest bridge in the
country completed by Myanmar engineers in three years five months.
"All must strive to strengthen economy to build more roads, bridges,
factories, schools, hospitals "
YANGON, 15 Nov- A ceremony to inaugurate Bo Myat Tun Bridge spanning
the Ayeyawady River between Thaungdan Village in Nyaungdon Township on
the eastern bank and Kyeinbinse Village in Nyaungdon Town,ship on thc
western bank was held at the pandal near the bridge in Thaungdan
village, Nyaungdon Township, on the eastern bank, this morning,
addressed by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe.
First, Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen
Tin Oo made a speech.
In his speech, the Secretary-2 said the ground-breaking ceremony for
construction of this bridge was held on 15 June 1996; at that time, a
plan was made to complete the construction of the bridge within two
years and eight months.
But, the bridge is the longest one out of the hitherto already built
bridges; as special care was taken to make sure that the bridge was
strong, it took three years and five months to complete the
construction of the bridge.
On 15 March 1996, the Senior General personally went out on a field
tour and designated the site for the bridge, and gave guidance that
the bridge was the main entrance to Ayeyawady Division and efforts
were to be made to complete the bridge as soon as possible and to make
sure that the bridge was strong. While the bridge was under
construction, the Senior General visited the site and fulfilled the
requirements not less than five times.
Normally, it would take seven or eight years to complete the bridge;
but, the construction work was completed within over three years.
Nawadae Bridge (Pyay) was inaugurated in September 1997, Maubin Bridge
in February 1998, Bala Minhtin Bridge ( Myitkyina) in November 1998;
there have been four Ayeyawady River crossing bridges including Bo
Myat Tun Bridge; Anawrahta Bridge (Chauk) will soon be opened; plans
are being made to build Ayeyawady Bridge (Daedaye), Ayeyawady Bridge
Magway) and Ayeyawady Bridge (Mandalay)
Only last September, Hsinbyushin Bridge across Chindwin River was
inaugurated in Anya region; moreover, Ta-kaw-ek Bridge, Tahsan Bridge
and Hpa-an Bridge across the Thanlwin River have been already built.
Bridges across the Ayeyawady River; the Chindwin River and the
Thanlwin River were built with the ability of Myanmar engineers on
self-reliance without any foreign assistance; it can be said that the
abilities of Myanmar could be shown to the world.
The bridges are living proof that Myanmar is a people with abilities
to build and safeguard the nation; they are not only transport
infrastructures but also symbols reflecting the national strength and
pride.
As Ayeyawady Division is teeming with rivers and streams, waterway is
the main mode of transport; after 1988, due to active cooperation of
the Government and people from Ayeyawady Division, a network of motor
roads and bridges has emerged in the division; once, motor roads were
about 463 miles long in all, and now, the motor roads have
stretched up to about 1,300 miles in all; as a result, the transport
sector is improving and over the last ten years, the economic and
social conditions of Ayeyawady Division are improving significantly.
The Government has built bridges with a view to overcoming transport
barriers such as rivers and streams; the emergence of the network of
motor roads and bridges in Ayeyawady Division can be attributed to
harmonious cooperation of the Government and the people; since the
Government assumed duties, the Government and the people have
been sharing duties and cooperating in nation-building endeavours and
development works.
Unity, perseverance, a sense of discipline and goodwill of the
national people are the deciding factors of national development and
the perpetual existence of the Union. All are to work hard, nurturing
patriotism and love for the Union and to safeguard national interests.
The emergence of bridges, roads, dams, reservoirs and factories can be
ascribed to interest, goodwill and farsighted guidance of the Head of
State.
Due to the guidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe, peace
and tranquillity and stability are prevailing the length and breadth
of the Union; the Union is also on the right path of development; if
unity, perseverance and a sense of discipline of the national people
are combined more and more, a peaceful, modern, developed and
democratic nation to which the entire national people are aspiring,
will take shape in so short a time.
The Secretary-2 then lauded efforts of officials of the ministries
including the Ministry of Construction, superintending engineers of
Public Works, technicians and construction workers, and thanked
regional authorities at all levels and local people.
In conclusion, the Secretary-2 urged all to maintain the bridge for
long-term use and existence. Bo Myat Tun Bridge, 8,544 feet long, has
a 6,164 foot-1Ong main bridge, a 1,000-foot-long approach structure on
the eastern bank of the river, a 1,380-foot-long approach structure on
the western bank, a 28-foot-wide motorway and two 6-foot-wide
pedestrian lanes on either side.The waterway under the bridge is 360
feet wide and the clearance, 57 feet high.The upper structure of the
bridge is the iron framework and the lower structure is built of
reinforced concrete.The bridge can bear 60 ton loads.Bo Myat Tun
Bridge Project began on 15 June 1996 and was completed on 30 October
1999.
Related Photos
http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/photo/9911161.jpg
http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/photo/9911162.jpg
http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/photo/9911163.jpg
http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/photo/9911166.jpg
http://www.myanmar.com/nlm/photo/9911167.jpg
http://homepages.go.com/~photo_album/newsphoto.htm
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Excerpt from Myanmar Information Home Page: Archive
http://mya...@listbot.com
From: David Arnott <dar...@iprolink.ch>
Subject: Burmese official attends Irrawaddy River bridge opening
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 01:17:21 +0100
BBC Monitoring South Asia
November 16, 1999, Tuesday
Burmese official attends Irrawaddy River bridge opening
SOURCE: Radio Myanmar, Rangoon, in Burmese 1330 gmt 15 Nov 99
Excerpts from report by Burmese radio on 15th November A ceremony to
commission Bo Myat Tun Bridge, which links the eastern and western
banks of the Irrawaddy River, was held in Nyaungdon at 0715 this
morning. The opening ceremony was attended by Sr Gen Than Shwe,
chairman of the State Peace and Development Council SPDC and commander
in chief of the Defence Services, and other officials...
Lt-Gen Tin Oo, SPDC secretary-2 and chairman of the Central Committee
for Ensuring Smooth and Secure Transportation, delivered an address at
the ceremony, explaining the significance of today's commissioning of
the bridge for Irrawaddy Division, Rakhine State, and Yangon Rangoon
Division...
He said the bridge has the total length of 8,544 feet, including the
6,164-foot long main section of the bridge. He said the bridge was
constructed within the period of over 3 years...
He praised the role played by the engineers from the Public
Construction Department in the construction of the bridge. He said
four bridges had already been built over the Irrawaddy River and that
another bridge - Anawrahta Bridge - would be open soon...
He said under the plan, three more bridges would be constructed across
the Irrawaddy River. He said skilled Myanmar engineers had constructed
large bridges over Irrawaddy, Chindwin, and Salween Rivers with the
internal resources without any foreign assistance. He said the Myanmar
experts have demonstrated their skills to the world. He said our
Myanmar people, who do not have to depend on foreign assistance and
aid for their survival, have demonstrated their ability to construct
and safeguard their own country. He said these bridges would
facilitate transportation from one region to another and lead to
frequent contacts and closer relations among the fraternal national
races. He said the bridges could metaphorically be called the national
unity bridges...
He said the network of bridges that has emerged in Irrawaddy Division
illustrates the outcome of cooperation and coordinatioin between the
government and the people. He said the national construction and
regional development tasks undertaken by the government since it
assumed state powers have brought about nationwide progress being
witnessed by the people . He explained that the unity, discipline,
diligence, and goodwill of the indigenous people are determining
factors for progress and the ability of the country to remain as a
modern Union till the end of time. Respect and faith in the
creativity of the people will give full guarantee for the country's
future
He said reliance on foreign countries will lead to loss of one's own
ability to think and can lead to the country being subservient to
other countries. Therefore, he called on the people to have
patriotism, cherish the Union, work hard, and protect the national
interests...
He said under the able leadership of SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe,
unprecedented level of peace and tranquillity prevails throughout the
country and the Union is now on the right path of development.
When these factors are added to the people's unity, productivity, and
discipline, a peaceful, modern, and democratic state aspired by the
people will emerge in a short time...
Next, SPDC Chairman Sr.Gen. Than Shwe spoke, noting the people of
Irrawaddy Division rejoicing at the completion of Bo Myat Tun Bridge.
He explained the need to build more roads, bridges, mills and
factories, schools, and hospitals... To do so, he said, the country
must be strong economically and everyone must work hard. He called on
all concerned to properly maintain the bridge so that it would last
long...
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