Padma Bridge, Road-rail bridge in Munshiganj, Bangladesh
Padma Bridge stretches for more than 6 kilometers and crosses the Padma River between Munshiganj, Shariatpur and Madaripur on 41 consecutive segments of steel and concrete. Its two levels separate into a four-lane road above and a rail track below, with the entire structure about 18 meters wide.
Building started in 2014 after international lenders withdrew their commitments and the country took on financing itself. Work finished in 2022, reshaping the link between the capital and the south.
This structure links the southern half of Bangladesh to the north, letting millions of people complete trips in hours instead of days. It stands for the aim to reduce the economic gap between both halves and make goods flow easier across the river.
Vehicles drive on top, trains roll along below, and both levels share the same support structure over the river. Visitors can best view the structure from the shore or experience it during the crossing itself.
During construction, heavy piers had to be sunk up to 120 meters (390 feet) deep into the riverbed to handle the strong currents and sandy bottom. This made the project one of the most technically demanding bridge builds in South Asia.
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