The government is making all-out efforts for development of the State, prevalence of peace and tranquillity, fulfilling food, clothing and shelter needs of the people, improvement of the living standard of the people, bringing about better transport and development of trade, commerce and manufacturing.

Hence, it is building infrastructures across the nation to narrow development gap between one region and another. And it has built a large number of bridges, large and small for secure and better transport. It has opened altogether 228 bridges, 180 feet and above long, including the newly-opened Dagon Bridge.

The six-lane Dagon Bridge is the largest one among the reinforced concrete bridges in Myanmar. With regard to the construction of the bridge, an interview was conducted with Project In-charge Deputy Superintending Engineer U Tint Lwin of Special Bridge Construction Group-1 of Public Works, Assistant Engineer (Civil) U Tin Win Aung and SAE (Civil) U Saw Tin Oo.

Q: How much did the government spend on construction of Dagon Bridge ?
A: The government spent altogether over K 20,000 million on construction of the bridge including the approach structures.
Q: What are the differences between Thanlwin Bridge (Mawlamyine) and Dagon Bridge?
A: The differences are so many as the technologies in construction of the two bridges are not the same. There were difficulties in construction of Dagon Bridge due to geographical condition.

Q: When did you put the finishing touches to the last concrete floor of the bridge?

A: We put the finishing touches to the last concrete floor on 16 June 2007. Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun inspected the finishing touches and gave instructions on timely completion of the work.

Q: When was the whole project completed?

A: The whole project was completed in July 2007.

Q: What are the salient points in construction of major bridges?

A: The salient points are the quality control and the close supervision. Only when there is the close supervision can the timely decision be made.

Q: U Tin Win Aung, let me ask you some questions as to your role in this project?

A: I am Assistant Engineer for the project. The project was the most difficult job for me during my 33 years’ service.

Q: What was the most difficult part of the construction process?

A: A stake for the bridge was driven on 2 May 2000. The most difficult part of the construction process was the laying of pillars in mid river. We had to take utmost care as it was a risky task. Frankly speaking, the laying of Pillar-12 and Pillar-13 was the most difficult and dangerous because the current of Bago River is strong, and the two pillars were in the middle of a whirlpool.

Q: What kind of whirlpool did you come across?

A: It was the whirlpool with a vortex imparting a strong centripetal force. Because of the special nature of the whirlpool, we had to get rid of the rubbish first before laying the two pillars.

Q: What are the natural difficulties stemming from Bago River?

A: As there is a hillock near Kalawe Village where the bridge was being constructed the current of the river flows erratically. As such, bank erosion had to be prevented. Stand pipes were to be sunk only when the river’s water subsided. We had about 45 minutes to sink a stand pipe. It took two days to sink a stand pipe.

Q: How did you sink the stand pipe?

A: We sank the stand pipe only after setting up a scaffolding. The stand pipes had to be handled with great care so that there can be no loss and damage. A stand pipe is worth about K 3 million.

Q: How did you manage the use of the CRC piles?

A: Bore piles are used on land and RCD piles are used in the water. We used 398 105-foot-long RCD piles and 240 110-foot-long reinforced concrete beams to build the 19 pillars of the Dagon Bridge.

Q: Is there any salient point in the Dagon Bridge?

A: Yes, there is. The pillars of the bridge were built with the use of cantilever so that the maximum distance between two pillars was as wide as 160 feet.

Q: How many pillars does the bridge consist of?

A: It consists of 19 main pillars, plus 15 pillars for the approach structure on Thanlyin side and 13 pillars for the approach structure on Yangon side.

Q: May I know the exact length of the bridge?

A: The length of the main structure is 2740 feet, the approach structure on Thanlyin side is 960 feet, and the approach structure on Yangon side is 840 feet. So, the total length of the bridge is 4540 feet.

Q: I would like to know the role new generation engineers played in the construction of the project.

A: Learning from our seniors, we Myanmar engineers have built many large and small bridges through innovations without any foreign assistance and experts. Many new generation engineers took part in the project. The purpose was to share our experiences with them. They showed their enthusiasm in the work. And they learnt the art of construction in earnest.

Q: SAE U Saw Tin Oo, let me know your experiences.

A: All right. I have got 20 years’ experience with construction. I have taken part in the 400 projects for construction of bridges under 180 feet long and 20 projects for construction of bridges above 180 feet long.

Q: Would you please share your experiences with us about the Dagon Bridge Project?

A: We wanted to make the distance between two pillars of the Dagon Bridge as wide as possible. So, we used PC girder reinforced-concrete beams. I had to take responsibilities for that. In the process, we had to take great care because the beams had 0.5-inch flexible steel string in them. We installed pieces of steel string only after making concrete slabs to reinforce the capacity of the pieces of the steel string.

Q: How many beams did you use for the bridge?

A: We used 240 beams at the rate of 15 beams a span. A beam is 110 feet long. The purpose was to reinforce the six-lane motor road. According to my experiences, the Dagon Bridge is the largest among the concrete ones. And it is designed to withstand 75 tons of loads for a cargo truck. So, it is the most reliable facility for container trucks.

Q: Myanmar engineers have constructed such large bridges without any foreign assistance. How do you feel about it?

A: In that regard, Myanmar engineers worked hard with patriotic spirit and determination in the interests of the State and the people. I am one of them, so I am very proud of our performance.

Q: How does the Ministry recognize your brilliant performances?

A: Well, the Ministry promotes, and sends outstanding engineers abroad for excursion or further studies in recognition.

Q: What is your future plan?

A: I think I will continue to construct bridges in the interest of the nation and the people. Indeed, bridges secure smooth transport. On my way home, I remembered the condition in which the people had to take ferry boats Thida (1) and Thida (2) to get to Thanlyin from Yangon in the past, and it took a long time for the people to travel between Thanlyin and Yangon. Now, such difficulties are no more thanks to the goodwill and projects of the government. There have been two large bridges through which the people can travel directly from Yangon to Thanlyin, Kyauktan, Kayan and Thongwa region. In the near future, the region will enjoy rapid development and that will contribute towards national progress.