Padma
Multipurpose
Bridge

The Padma (Ganges) river has the second largest water volume in the world. This posed a huge obstacle to Bangladesh’s economic development and connectivity of Dhaka to regional communities south of the Capital. A combined road and railway bridge would facilitate efficient movement of goods and people. Key challenges of Padma Multi-purpose Bridge were:
The bridge is approximately 6.15km long and 21.1m wide with approximately 13.6 km of approach roads and bridge-end facilities, including toll plazas, service areas and offices. The bridge consists of two decks with a four lane highway on the top and a single track dual gauge rail line below. Ancillary services are also included to transfer gas, power and tele-communication lines. The main bridge is a two-level steel truss superstructure acting compositely with a reinforced concrete deck slab. The double deck composite steel truss structure uses 41 piers with the main spans up to 150m long.
SMEC’s services included bridge design verification, foundation works, river training, geotechnical engineering, quality control, environment, social, materials, hydrology, bathymetry, electrical engineering, dredging design, project management, surveying and contract administration.
The Padma Multi-Purpose Bridge connects Louhagonj, Munshiganj to Shariatpur and Madaripur linking the south-west of the country, to northern and eastern regions, reducing the distance between the regions & Dhaka by 100-150 kilometres. The new bridge will enable travel times to be reduced by up to five hours.
The impacts will increase transport efficiency, augment economic development in rural areas, and enrich social development by connecting planned growth centres. Businesses will benefit from greater access to regional markets, travel times and vehicle operating costs will be significantly reduced, and tourism is expected to rise, leading to accelerated economic activity.