Padma Bridge
Padma Bridge পদ্মা সেতু | |
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Padma Bridge in July 2023 | |
| Coordinates | 23°26′39″N 90°15′40″E / 23.4443°N 90.2610°E |
| Carries | Dhaka–Bhanga Expressway Asian Highway 1 National Highway 8 Dhaka–Jashore Railway |
| Crosses | Padma River |
| Official name | Padma Multipurpose Bridge |
| Named for | Padma River |
| Owner | Bangladesh Bridge Authority |
| Website | www |
| Next upstream | Lalon Shah Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss bridge |
| Total length | 6.15 km (3.82 mi) |
| Width | 18.10 m (59.4 ft) |
| Height | 120 m (390 ft) |
| Water depth | 29 m (95 ft) |
| No. of spans | 41 |
| Load limit | 10,000 tonnes |
| No. of lanes | 4 |
| History | |
| Designer | AECOM |
| Constructed by | China Major Bridge Engineering Co. Ltd. |
| Construction start | 26 November 2014 |
| Construction end | 23 June 2022 |
| Construction cost | ৳301.93 billion (US$3.6 billion) |
| Opened | 26 June 2022 |
| Inaugurated | 25 June 2022 |
| Statistics | |
| Toll | Yes |
| Location | |
| Part of a series on |
| Transport in Bangladesh |
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| Modes |
| Aviation |
| Authorities |
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| Public transits |
| Important infrastructures |
| Others |
The Padma Multipurpose Bridge, commonly known as the Padma Bridge, is a two-level road-rail bridge across the Padma River, the main distributary of the Ganges in Bangladesh.
It connects Louhajang Upazila of Munshiganj and Zazira Upazila of Shariatpur and a small part of Shibchar Upazila of Madaripur, linking the less developed southwest of the country to the northern and eastern regions. The bridge was inaugurated on 25 June 2022 by then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The bridge is considered to be the most challenging construction project in the history of Bangladesh. The steel truss bridge carries a four-lane highway on the upper level and a single-track railway on the lower level. The bridge consists of 41 sections, each 150.12 m (492.5 ft) long and 22 metres (72 ft) wide, with a total length of 6.15 km (3.82 mi). It is the longest bridge in Bangladesh by both span and total length, and features the deepest pile depth of any bridge in the world at 127 m (417 ft). The construction of this bridge was deemed to be especially challenging due to specific constraints with the width and depth of the Padma river.
The bridge was expected to boost the GDP of Bangladesh by up to 1.23 percent. The bridge connects 13 districts (of a total 21) to other regions of the country which have an above-average poverty rate. Following the inauguration of the bridge, economic activity in the southwestern regions was expected to be significantly boosted, with several big companies opening productions there prior to completion. 17 economic zones are planned at different places in the southwestern region.
Since its inauguration, the Padma Multipurpose Bridge has generated approximately Tk. 800 crore through toll collection in one year. Data analysis from the bridge department reveals that on average, more than 15,000 vehicles cross the bridge on a daily basis. To ensure convenient trips to other destinations by crossing the Padma Bridge, the government of Bangladesh has initiated numerous projects, including the Dhaka–Mawa–Bhanga Elevated Expressway, aimed at enhancing road connectivity.