Bailey bridge over Hewakhola to be ready in 20 days

By Radha Luitel,Phidim, May 23: Parts of the Bailey bridge to be fixed over the Hewakhola in Panchthar, along the Mechi Highway, have arrived at the site. The bridge had been washed away twice by floods.

After the Bailey bridge previously constructed at the site was washed away by a flood on September 29, 2024, the Road Division Office, Ilam, initiated the reinstallation process.

The infrastructure work for the bridge installation is now in its final phase. On the Phidim side, 2,600 cubic metres of gabion walls and 400 cubic metres of concrete retaining walls have already been constructed as part of the base. The access road on the Phidim side has also been completed, according to Engineer Sitaram Gautam of the Road Division Office, Ilam.

On the opposite side of the river, in Hilihang Rural Municipality, the track opening has been completed, and the base is currently being reinforced with concrete. The contract for installing the bridge, constructing the base and building the access road has been awarded to the Dovan-Suprasaugat-Light Builders JV construction company by the Road Division Office, Ilam.

According to Pawan Bhattarai, a representative of the construction company, 100 iron pipes have been drilled and installed under the retaining wall on the Phidim side, reaching down to the riverbed, to ensure the safety of the bridge. All the necessary bridge components have already been transported to the site.

“The construction of the base and the transportation of the components have been completed. Likewise, the technician assigned for installation is currently opening another Bailey bridge at Foksingtar. Once he arrives, vehicles will be able to use the bridge within 15 days of the commencement of the work. Altogether, it should take no more than 20 days to complete everything,” Bhattarai said. The remaining parts are currently in transit and will be delivered to the site within a few days, the company reported. 

The original concrete bridge was washed away by floods on June 16, 2023. Another Bailey bridge was then constructed within 29 days, but it too was swept away by a flood on September 29, 2024. Following this, the federal government initiated the process of installing a second Bailey bridge at the location.

Since the Bailey bridge was swept away, vehicles have been transported across Hewakhola using a diversion with Hume pipes.

The total contract value is Rs 34.9 million, according to the Road Division Office Ilam. Engineer Gautam said that the new Bailey bridge being installed at Hewakhola will be 70 metres long, making it the longest Bailey bridge installed in Nepal to date.

Once completed, the bridge will facilitate smooth transportation of goods between Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar and Taplejung via the Mechi Highway.