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April 28, 2026 -
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The Ayeyawady Bridge (Yadanabon) in Mandalay Region has completed reinforcement and repair work, and cargo vehicles are now permitted to cross the bridge with loads of up to 45 tonnes, according to the Bridges Department under the Ministry of Construction.
Due to the major Mandalay earthquake, parts of the bridge, including gusset plates on the piers, inclined members of the steel truss, and bearings, were damaged. Initially, the bridge was only allowed to carry vehicles and cargo weighing up to 15 more tonnes.
As part of the first phase of repairs, steel truss members and gusset plates were replaced. Following load testing, the allowable load was increased to 25 tonnes in November 2025. At present, the second phase of reinforcement work has been completed, and after further load testing, the permitted load has been increased to 45 tonnes for vehicles and cargo crossing the bridge.
As a result, heavy cargo trucks and fuel tankers no longer need to use ferries to cross the river and can now travel directly over the bridge. This will reduce both travel time and transport costs, and will also facilitate faster and more efficient movement of goods. Efforts will continue to repair earthquake-related damage to restore the original permitted load capacity of 60 tonnes.
The Ayeyawady Bridge (Yadanabon) was constructed by the Ministry of Construction’s Public Works. The bridge has a total length of 5,614 feet (1,711 metres) and a width of 49 feet (15 metres), comprising a four-lane roadway and pedestrian walkways six feet (1.8 metres) wide on both sides. Its original load-bearing capacity is 60 tonnes.
The Ayeyawady Bridge (Yadanabon) is an important bridge spanning the Ayeyawady River, connecting Mandalay Region with Sagaing Region. — ASH/KNN
