Sikkim: 180-Foot Bailey Bridge Inaugurated in Sangklang to Ease Traffic

SANGKLANG: A bailey bridge in North Sikkim's Sangklang area, built by Trishakti Sappers in collaboration with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), was inaugurated on January 2. The bridge, with a load capacity of 24 tonnes and a length of 180 feet, aims to ease the movement of vehicular traffic in the picturesque Mangan district, officials said.

The bridge was constructed within a record six days after the commencement of construction works on December 25 and thrown open for public use on Thursday, officials said. While the bridge will serve the region until summer, it will be dismantled before the monsoon season to prevent damage from rising water levels.

“The bridge is expected to have a positive impact on the region by easing the movement of vehicular traffic, the transportation of goods, and access to markets and essential services,” an official said.

A Bailey bridge is a portable, prefabricated structure made of steel and wood that can be quickly assembled without heavy equipment or special tools.

In 2023, the Indian Army built and inaugurated a 200-foot Bailey bridge over the Teesta River—one of the longest and heaviest single-span Bailey bridges constructed by the force in just five days. This bridge was completed nearly a month and a half after the devastating flash flood in Sikkim, which killed at least 80 people and washed away roads and bridges.

ALSO READ: Sikkim Bridge Washed Away By GLOF 2023 Restored, To Connect 21 Villages

ALSO WATCH: