Bangabandhu Bridge

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it true that there are cracks in the bridge?

Q.Why is the bridge curved?
A.For a number of reasons. A curved bridge is safer, from a road traffic point of view, than a long straight stretch. Also a curved structure allowed for the possibility of adjusting the final position of the west end of the bridge if this became necessary due to any changes in the river position after the design had been completed. Last but not least, the curved design is generally considered aesthetically more pleasing than a straight one. What do you think?

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Q.Is it true that there are cracks in the bridge?
A. Yes, but they are not serious. In fact, all concrete structures are subject to some cracking. Cracks in the Bangabandhu Bridge have all been carefully examined and the appropriate action taken to deal with them. In addition to the contractors and consultants working on the bridge, JMBA sought the opinion of renowned world experts to provide assurance that there would be no effect on the long-term structural integrity of the bridge. This has been given.

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Q. How long will the bridge last?
A. Well, the bridge has a design life of 100 years so it's going to be around for a long time. In fact, with the level of maintenance that is being provided, it is likely that the actual life of the bridge will be considerably longer than the design life.

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Q.How were the road traffic tolls set?
A. Four principal factors were taken into consideration:

The general cost savings that would accrue to people using the bridge - basically the benefit of saving time. It is reasonable for part of those savings to be levied as a toll.
The equivalent ferry costs
The level of income necessary to cover the operation and maintenance costs of the bridge, given the forecast of traffic use at various toll levels.
Building up a reserve fund in lieu of insurance to meet any unforeseen major expenditure.

On the basis of these considerations, an optimum toll structure was drawn up and approved by the Government.

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