All piers on Male’-side of CMFB linked via concrete bridge deck

All the piers on the Male’ side of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge between Male’ City and Hulhule’ have now been connected via concrete bridge deck, says Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

The announcement was made by Muizzu via his official Twitter this Thursday morning.

Muizzu said the concrete bridge deck now covers a 540-meter area from Male’ City.

CMFBridge ge mai thanbu thakaa hamayah Male kolhun huri hurihaa thanbeh concrete bridge deck alhaa gulhuvaa nimifai. Male kolhun jumla 540m dhiguminuge raasthaaeh. pic.twitter.com/1aUwuP8mXo

— Dr.Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) May 3, 2018

Workers are now installing steel box girders on the bridge. The minister said earlier that the work began in March, and will be complete by July.

He said once the installation of steel box girders is complete, workers will begin using asphalt to level the bridge and install light fixtures on the bridge.

Muizzu said in a recent press conference that the bridge will be made functional in time for the upcoming Maldivian Presidential Election.

The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge Project is worth USD 300 million (MVR 4.7 billion). The Chinese government provided USD 100 million as non-reimbursable financial aid, and a USD 170 million low-interest loan at two percent for the project. The remaining USD 30 million was put in by the Maldivian government.

The bridge is 1.39 kilometers long and 20 meters wide, and will have two lanes for four-wheeled vehicles, two lanes for motorcycles, one lane for bicycles and one lane for pedestrians.

Meanwhile, work on constructing roads in Male’ City, Hulhule’ and Hulhumale’ connecting to the bridge is being carried out alongside the construction of the bridge. And Maldives Ports limited (MPL) is preparing to arrange bus transportation for passengers along the bridge.