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Preparations underway to open Hankede bridge for public use in July

Addu Hankede bridge, connecting Gaukendi and Maradhoo has been 95 percent completed with preparations now underway to the open the bridge for public use in July.

Aishath Shuba Solih
26 June 2024, MVT 19:03
The Hankede bridge built between Addu City Gaukendi and Maradhoo two join the two islands. -- Photo: Ministry of Construction & Infrastructure
Aishath Shuba Solih
26 June 2024, MVT 19:03

The Hankede bridge, built between Addu City's Gaukendi and Maradhoo, located in the southernmost atoll of Maldives, has been nearly completed and preparations are currently underway to open the bridge for public use in July.

Ministry of Construction & Infrastructure stated that this detour bridge or Hankede bridge included in the project to establish a water drainage system and develop roads in Addu City has seen 95 percent completion.

Remaining works of the bridge include installing a crash barrier, affixing an expansion joint and removing sand temporarily piled under the bridge to proceed the work, said the Ministry.

"Preparations to open the bridge for public use in July, next month is ongoing," said the Ministry in a post on social platform X.

The project to establish a water drainage system in all Addu islands and develop the roads under Indian Exim Bank's Business Line of Credit Loan was contracted to Indian Company, AFCONS Infrastructure in 2021. This project was begun at the time with a large budget of USD 77.6 million (MVR 1.1 billion). The deadline for the project was initially set for two years. However, it had experienced a prolonged delay in its conclusion due to setbacks caused by various circumstances.

AFCONS Infrastructure, who are also in charge of building the ThilaMale' bridge connecting Male', Vilimale', Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi was assigned the task of building the bridge linking Gaukendi and Maradhoo islands under the project as well.

The bridge is located west of the Addu link road to connect Gaukendi and Maradhoo together without clashing with the island of Hankede. The Hankede bridge measures up to 1.5 kilometers in length and is four lanes wide.

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