9 June

A sea-crossing bridge connecting Kawthoung Township, Taninthayi Region with an island village named Pulone Toneton Village is being built by the Bridge Construction Group – 4 under the Ministry of Construction.

Pulone Tonelon Village, located on an island in the Andaman Sea, consists of more than 1,000 households with a population of over 3,000. The village has abundance of marine products. In the past, residents from Pulone Tonelon Village faced many challenges in health, education, and economic sectors as they had to use motorcycles and boats to travel to Kawthoung through Chaungwa Village which is about 7 miles far from Kawthoung. 

Construction of a 2,690 ft. long, 15 ft. wide wooden bridge was completed on 6 December 2004. Now a new sea-crossing concrete bridge is under construction because the wooden bridge was badly damaged by the seawater.

The piles are constructed from reinforcement cement concrete up to hard rock. They took at least two weeks to finish construction of a bored pile and focused on durability of the bridge, said U Nyunt Thein, a civil engineer from the Bridge Construction Group – 4. The new bridge will be 2,400 ft. long, 24 ft. wide and has a three ft. long pedestrian walkway on each side. The clearance of the bridge will be 80 ft. wide and 3 ft. high and the bridge will be constructed mostly from reinforced concrete. Upon completion of the bridge, local people will be able to use the new bridge in all seasons with greater ease.

At the same time, the bridge will help improve socio economic status such as education, health, economy and agriculture for the local people, thereby boosting tourism industry in the area, said U Mya Thein Pe, a village elder. The sea-crossing bridge believed to be the first of its kind in Myanmar is being constructed at a cost of over K13.4 billion with Taninthayi regional government’s funds. Construction of the bridge began in August 2017 and the project is slated for completion in 2020. A negotiation is being made with the local government for timely completion of the project.

A border road was upgraded by Myeik Public Corporation Limited in Mawtaung Town, Taninthayi Region with the aim of improving the economy and promoting tourism industry, according to U Than Lwin, the project director. “Htonkha-Mawtaung road section has been implemented through BOT system since 2013. The road is 48 mile-6-furlong long and 24 ft. wide and construction work was completed in February. We will build two tollgates along the road,” he added. Local merchants in Taninthayi Region will be able to export marine products to Mahachai in Thailand, thereby contributing to development of trade and tourism industry between the two countries, he said.
Being a major border trading route for Myanmar and Thailand, the road was built by Myeik Public Corporation Limited with the help of Thai engineers. “In the past, locals, travellers and transporters experienced many barriers due to poor road transportation. Residents from Mawtaung had to make a one-night stopover if they went to Myeik. Now the road helps local people reach Myeik within 3 hours, facilitating swift flow of goods and reducing transportation charges, said a truck driver who declined to be named.

The Department of Bridge under the Ministry of Construction also built two bridges over Phayar Kaing Creek and TadaU Creek to replace old bridges in Myeik. Construction of the bridges commenced in September 2018 with the funds allocated by Taninthayi regional government. Out of the two bridges, the 40 ft. long, 32 ft. wide bridge named “Parami Bridge” was constructed at a cost of K90 million and has been 100 percent finished. The remaining bridge is 90 ft. in length and 40 ft. in width and was built by spending K256.9 million. The two bridges are vital for residents in Myeik who use them on a daily basis.