𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐭𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞

…𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒚 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒗𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

By Tashi Tshewang

A 30-meter-long and 6.2- meter-wide multi-cell box culvert is currently under construction over the Sukraty River in Samtse District, Bhutan. This permanent concrete bridge aims to solve a long-standing problem faced by residents of villages like Gawadong, which comprise over 35 households, who have been cut off during the monsoon season.

These communities depended on temporary bridges that were frequently destroyed by the strong river currents during heavy rains, leading to seasonal isolation. This left residents struggling to access essential services such as schools, healthcare, and markets. The new bridge is expected to significantly improve connectivity and safety, allowing reliable year-round travel.

The project is part of the High Impact Community Development Project. A total budget of Nu 10 million has been allocated to the gewog, with Nu 6.6 million earmarked for the culvert construction. According to the latest reports, approximately 40 percent of the work has been completed. Although the contract duration is eight months, the contractor aims to finish the project before the onset of the monsoon season, expected in June 2025.

The decision to build a multi-cell box culvert instead of a suspension bridge came after site inspections revealed that the area is prone to flash floods. The culvert offers a more durable and safer option under these conditions.

Sita Devi Gurung, Assistant Engineer, explained the engineering behind the structure. “The multi-cell box culvert at Sukraty, stretching 30 meters in length, is designed to handle the intense water flow and debris brought by monsoon flash floods. The multi-cell system increases discharge capacity and distributes the flow evenly, while providing backup if any cell becomes partially blocked.”

She continued, “To counter the high scouring risk from fast currents and vulnerable soil, rigid concrete aprons have been installed upstream and downstream of the culvert, with boulder walls at the edges to dissipate energy and protect the structure. The aprons have a slight gradient to reduce flow velocity and minimize erosion.”

“Gabion retaining walls stabilize the riverbanks beside the culvert, preventing erosion during high flows,” she added. “We are coordinating closely with the contractor to increase labor and machinery on site to push progress. Strict quality control measures are in place, including using tested materials, verifying reinforcement placement, and carefully managing concreting and curing to ensure durability.”

Wangchuk Lepcha, Gup of Samtse, said several proactive measures have been taken by the Gewog Administration to ensure timely completion. “Daily site inspections are conducted by the site engineer to monitor construction activities, assess work quality, and ensure adherence to the timeline. The contractor has also been advised to divert water flow and uplift soil for slab casting, allowing work to continue even under challenging weather conditions.”

He emphasized the importance of maintenance following construction. “To guarantee the bridge’s longevity and safety, the Gewog Administration plans periodic inspections and prompt repairs for any structural or surface issues. Annual maintenance budgets have been allocated to support minor repairs and preventive upkeep.”

Community consultation played a key role in the project’s planning. “The public had long demanded this bridge and were consulted throughout the planning phase. They have expressed positive feedback and a sense of pride, actively monitoring the site and reporting on progress,” Wangchuk Lepcha said.

Lal Bdr Gurung, Tshogpa of Samtse, shared his perspective on how the bridge will affect local livelihoods. “Before, especially during the monsoon, farmers struggled to transport their agricultural produce to the market. Roads were often blocked or washed away, causing vegetables to spoil before they could be sold. This bridge will provide a safe and reliable route, even during heavy rains. It is not only about convenience but about protecting their hard work and supporting their livelihoods.”

Residents are hopeful that the construction will be completed before the peak of the monsoon season. “For many years, the biggest concern during monsoon has been the safety of children crossing swollen streams to get to school or return home,” Lal Bdr Gurung said. “This bridge will solve that problem and give families peace of mind.”

Yam Kumar Rai, a local resident, described the hardships faced before the bridge. “Crossing the Sukraty River during monsoon was a real struggle. Although residents constructed a temporary Bailey bridge, it was frequently washed away. The river is unpredictable, swelling suddenly like a hurricane and sweeping everything in its path, then calming after an hour as if nothing happened.”

He shared how children were especially at risk. “Sometimes their shoes, slippers, lunch boxes, or umbrellas would be swept away. Crossing the river at night felt like walking on the edge of a sharp knife.”

Yam Kumar Rai expressed cautious optimism about the new bridge. “Residents will no longer need to risk the river daily. We will be able to travel and transport goods more easily and safely. However, progress feels slow, and the contractor could deploy more workers to speed up construction. Recently, some materials were washed downstream during rain, which should be a lesson learned.”

He also voiced concerns about the bridge’s capacity to handle mining traffic. “Vehicles carrying 25 to 30 metric tons of boulders from nearby mining operations will likely use the bridge for the next 10 to 15 years. We worry whether the bridge is designed to handle that weight. The signboard near the riverbank does not mention load capacity, which causes concern among residents.”

The new bridge is expected to improve year-round connectivity for local communities, provide reliable access to schools, healthcare, and markets, and support economic growth by facilitating trade. Importantly, it will enhance disaster resilience by reducing isolation during floods and enabling quicker emergency response. These outcomes align closely with the goals of the High Impact Community Development Project.