Housing Minister Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced on Monday that half of the foundation piling work of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge project has been completed.
The 1.39-kilometre long 20-metre wide China-Maldives Friendship Bridge would connect the eastern end of Malé with the northern end of Hulhulé. The main platform of the bridge would be supported with five piers, which would consist of a total of 36 piles.
Dr. Muizzu said that “work on 17 of the 36 piles have been completed, accounting to half of the foundation piling work. Concrete work of a number of the piles have also been completed.” “Foundation piling work of the project is expected to be completed by the end of December,” he added.
The project was contracted to China’s CCCC Second Harbour Engineering Company. It will cost approximately US$210 million, of which 94% is provided by the Chinese government, which includes a grant aid of US$124 million and a soft loan of US$73.4 million.
Dr. Muizzu earlier said the remaining US$12.6 million had now been paid to the contractor. The government aims to inaugurate the bridge on July 26, 2018.