December 24, 2019

Union Minister for Construction U Han Zaw inspected the upgradation process of the Yangon-Pathein road (Yangon Region’s side) yesterday morning.

Firstly, the Union Minister inspected the section of road from mileposts 5/4 to 17/4 and observed the road expansion and paving of cement roads by Oriental Highway Co Ltd. He also observed lime stabilized mix design technology being used from mileposts 10/4 to 10/5.

Next, the Union Minister inspected the road from mileposts 17/4 to 24/4 and observed road expansions, concrete road paving and listened to officials explain action plans for upgrading the Yangon-Pathein road, future plans, producing road layer designs, and quality maintenance.

The Union Minister responded to the explanations and said the Yangon-Pathein highway is an important road and upgrading it to the standard road design is very important. He said quality maintenance team need to supervise carefully since it is difficult to repair concrete roads when they get damaged.

As such, everything must go right from the beginning of the project and preparations need to be made to prevent public traffic accidents while work is taking place, said the Union Minister.

Next, he inspected the construction zone of Pathein Bridge (2), undertaken by Bridge Special Unit (16) of the Department of Bridges. The Union Minister then listened to officials explain the work process and gave them suggestions in return.

Pathein Bridge (2) passes over Ngawun River and directly links to Pathein and Sein Gon Ward on the west bank of the river once completed. The bridge will be 2,380 feet long and 28 feet wide for the car lanes with 5 extra feet on either side of the bridge for walkways. The bridge will be high enough for ships to sail underneath, being 60 feet from the surface of the river and having a 416 feet-wide opening underneath the bridge.

The bridge will become an important landmark for Pathein, assist in local regional development and offer a faster route to beaches such as Ngwehsaung, Chaungtha and Shwe Thaung Yan, and to Ayeyawady Region and Rakhine State’s coastal roads.

Later in the evening, the Union Minister inspected along the Pathein-Kangon-Myin Kaseit-Myaungmya road. — MNA (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)