Altogether 183 major bridges built across the nation
Panmon Creek Bridge opened in Sagaing Division

Yangon, 23 May - Panmon Creek Bridge, which was built by the Construction Group 11 of the Public Works on Kalay-Gangaw Road near Natchaung Village in Kalay Township, Sagaing Division, was opened this morning with an inauguration speech by Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defence.

The inauguration ceremony was also attended by Sagaing Division PDC Chairman Commander of North-West Command Maj-Gen Tha Aye, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun and senior military officers, responsible officials and local people.

First, Lt-Gen Ye Myint spoke on the occasion.

Lt-Gen Ye Myint said the 220 feet long Panmon Creek Bridge is on Kalay-Gangaw Road in Sagaing Division. He quoted Head of State Senior General Than Shwe as saying that transport is vital for development of the country and better transport brings about economic and social development. Roads and bridges are being built for narrowing the development gap and for closer relations among the regions. He said strategy was laid down and roads and railroads linking all parts of the Union are being built in accord with the guidance of the Head of State. Altogether 183 bridges which are 180 feet and above were built - 170 by Public Works, six by Myanma Railways and seven by military engineering unit. It was difficult to reach regions in north-west of Myanmar and Gangaw and Kalay regions on west bank of Ayeyawady and Chindwin Rivers in successive periods and there was less development in economic and social sectors, he said.

He said in the time of the Tatmadaw government, Kalay-Gangaw Railroad, Kalay-Gangaw Road and Gangaw-Hakha Road were built and Myittha and Kabani Bridges were also constructed in order to reach Magway, Sagaing and Mandalay Divisions easily.

After completion of the Panmon Creek Bridge, people can go to Kalay and Chin State in a short time and regional and forest products can be transported easily. Regions on Gangaw-Kalay Road will develop soon, he added. He spoke at length on implementation of three development projects - border areas and national races development project, 24 development regions project and the five rural development tasks and raising of economic and social conditions after construction of networks of roads.

Afterwards, Maj-Gen Saw Tun briefed on the construction of the bridge.

He said that a total of 171 bridges have been built all over the country since 1988. Moreover, there are 24 bridges which are under construction and other 20 ones are to be built.

The newly opened Panmon Creek Bridge is the 11th one among the bridges inaugurated in Sagaing Division which are over 180 feet long. In the division, there are two bridges under construction and three are to be built, he said.

He also thanked the departmental officials and local people who gave a hand with the construction of the bridge.

Next, Commander Maj-Gen Tha Aye also made an address.

Later, Maj-Gen Tha Aye, Maj-Gen Saw Tun and Brig-Gen Khin Maung Aye of Kalay Station formally opened the bridge. Then, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party had a documentary photo taken.  Next, Lt-Gen Ye Myint unveiled the stone inscription of the bridge and sprinkled scented water on it.

The reinforced type Panmon Creek Bridge is 220 feet long and its clearance is 104 feet wide and two feet high. It can withstand 30 tons of load. The bridge construction tasks were launched on 1st August 2003.