Pikauk Bridge on Yangon-Sittway Hig

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

Subject: Pikauk Bridge on Yangon-Sittway Highway commissioned into servic

Pikauk Bridge on Yangon-Sittway Highway
commissioned into service

YANGON, 5 July-An inauguration ceremony of Pikauk Bridge on Yangon-Sittway 
Highway built by Public Works of the Ministry of Construction was held there 
in Kyauktaw Township this morning, with an address by Secretary-3 of the 
State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Win Myint. In his address, Lt-Gen 
Win Myint said the 360-foot- long Pikauk Bridge built with bailey type frames 
on reinforced concrete piers is the sixth bridge project completed on 
Yangon-Sittway Highway. 
He spoke of the construction and completion of other bridges on the highway 
in Rakhine State, which has many rivers and creeks, the project to build 
Yangon-Ann and Ann-Sittway sections of the highway, completion of six major 
bridges and 670 small bridges on the highway. Yaw Creek Bridge to be 
commissioned soon, and efforts for completion of other major and small 
bridges as scheduled.


He pointed out the need for the transport sector to be smooth and secure in 
endeavoring for building a peaceful, modern and developed nation and noted 
that Ministry of Construction is carrying out the duty for smooth and secure 
transport.


In endeavoring for smooth and secure transport, the government has built new 
roads stretching 3.971 miles and 219 bridges of 60 feet in and noted that 
these efforts are being made in keeping with Senior General Than Shwe?s 
guidance on narrowing development gap between one region and another. he said.


Of the river bridge construction projects, five bridges across Ayeyawady 
River, three across Thanlwin River and one across Chindwn River were built 
simultaneously, and today, three across Ayeyawady River and three across 
Thanlwin River have been commissioned into service; and very soon Bo Myat Tun 
Bridge across the Ayeyawady near Nyaungdon is to be put into service, he said.


Continuing, the Secretary-3 spoke of the benefits that would accrue after 
opening Yangon-Sittway Highway, in both aspects of the transport sector and 
the national consolidation and accelerated efforts and accomplishments in 
other sectors.

As progress is made in various sectors, the GDP growth was registered at 5.6 
and individual income at K 33,012 in 1998-99, the third year of the second 
short-term five-year plan, he said, also speaking of the progress in Rakhine 
State. Next, Commander Maj-Gen Aung Htwe de a speech. Commander Maj-Gen Aung 

Htwe and Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun formally commissioned the 
bridge into service.


Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun formally unveiled the stone inscription on 
construction of the bridge. The bridge has 10 feet and nine inches wide 
motorway and 75 feet wide and five feet high waterway clearance. The total 
construction cost was K 131.7 million.


_____________________________