The main pillars of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge which would link the capital with the airport island Hulhule and reclaimed suburb Hulhumale would be completed by May, housing ministry said Monday.
After showing the bridge site to the media on Monday, housing minister Dr Mohamed Muizzu said that the concrete work was completed on 22 of the 35 pillars on the main bridge. He also revealed that the concrete work was one on 40 of the 88 pillars in the approach bridge.
The Minister informed that the work on the pillars would be finished by May this year.
"From the work remaining, I would note the work that must be done on the pillars of the main and approach bridges. The concrete work on all pillars will be completed by May this year should work continue without any interruptions. Pillars of both have been scheduled to be completed by May, but we may be ahead of schedule," the minister told local media at the bridge site.
After the work on the pillars is complete, the work on the pile caps will begin which is expected to be finished as early as August. The superstructures of the bridge which is currently being completed in China, will be installed after the pile caps.
The bridge dubbed China-Maldives Friendship bridge is being financed with USD126 million in grant aid and a concessionary loan from China along with USD12.6 million from the state budget.
The over water Male-Hulhumale Bridge will stretch out to 1.39 kilometers in length and 20 meters in width.
