The Increasingly Stressed Bridge

Bridges located along the Bagmati River are getting older and increasingly stressed day by day which could damage or even destroy the bridge. One prominent example of such a scenario, is the bridge at Sinamangal located at the south-west corner from the gate to the Tribhuwan International Airport gate.

The bridge is already seriously damaged and there are roadblocks located at each side of the spoiled bridge in order to reduce the increasing stress on the bridge. To maintain the flow of the vehicles in the area an alternate diversion was created through the efforts of the locals and the civic society. Mr. Ritesh Maharjan, 24 years old says, “The diversion was created two months after the bridge was damaged.” Mr. Maharjan has been staying in the area for two years and is a student.

Mr. Bipin Thapa another student says, “Although the bridge has been replaced with a diversion, people still prefer to walk in the original.” Thapa further says,” There is extreme pollution on the diversion, the road is not pitched and therefore the preference for the diversion is very low among the locals.”

The problems with the diversion can be identified among the locals. But with increasing stress in an already damaged bridge can cause total collapse of the remains of the original with no chances of repair in the future. Mr. Maharjan agrees with the statement and says, “Everybody is always in a hurry and during this time nobody is expected to consider other problems except self-problems. I myself had to use the bridge once because I was in a complete rush and the problem had to be solved quickly.”

Science has proved that with increasing stress beyond the capacity of the stress level can lead to complete collapse and the Sinamangal Bridge has also met its complete stress level. The bridge is already severely damaged and with even a small stress like people walking on the bridge could create a catastrophe and can increase further more of the problems among the locals that it has brought now.