The Challenge

The remote village of Singur sits at more than 1500m above sea level, along the Chitral River in northwest Pakistan. Although difficult to access and designated as a high-security alert area, it lies on a route considered critical to promoting socio-economic development in the region, so a permanent crossing over the river was required to improve connectivity. Easily transported and rapidly installed, a modular steel bridge offered an optimal solution for this permanent application.

The Solution

A 2-span Mabey Bridge Delta™ was supplied and installed by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the supervision of Military Engineers and construction firm Frontier Works Organization (FWO). Individuals with sound experience of Delta bridge launching were employed to assist with the cantilever launch to ensure a rapid and smooth installation. The Delta™ bridge is 100 meters long with a roadway width of 7.35 meters between kerbs, designed to carry HL-93 loading, and features a polyurethane-based anti-skid deck surface. The permanent long-span structure was completed in just 21 days, proving to be faster and more cost-effective than traditional construction methods which can take up to 3-5 years.

The Results

This project is the latest of several Mabey Bridge projects completed in Pakistan in collaboration with FWO.The construction of new infrastructure in the Chitral district is one of many recent government economic development initiatives, including the Chitral Economic Zone, which will facilitate more local employment opportunities by creating up to 8,000 jobs.

Michael Treacy, CEO Mabey Bridge, said, “We are honoured to have been selected once again to partner on such an important project in Pakistan. Our reliable, cost-effective steel bridging solutions are well-suited to remote locations, and have been installed all over Pakistan to restore vital rural connectivity. We are delighted to have worked with the Government of Pakistan on this important project, building on a decades-long partnership in the development of critical rural infrastructure in Pakistan.”