Rasuwa Floods: Bailey Bridge Installation Progresses Amid Long Delays and Road Reconstruction Challenges

The main road network in Rasuwa was severed following the September 25 floods.

“Our priority is to reopen the road to Betravati as soon as possible and reconnect Dhunche, Rasuwa to the national highway,” said Engineer Subhraj Nyaupane, spokesperson for the Roads Department.

“About 500 spots along the eastern road at Betravati were washed away by rivers, so reconstructing these areas is our immediate task. Additionally, removing 3-4 meters of stone and mud deposits in Betravati market poses another challenge.”

Before installing strong bridges, the government must also overcome the challenge of road reconstruction.

Officials have noted that Bailey bridges are typically installed within two to three weeks.

“If the road track can be reopened, there are occasional options like placing pipes across rivers to allow vehicles to pass,” Nyaupane added.

After the road collapse caused by flooding, preparations are underway to cut the wall connecting Dhading’s Krishnabhir to the Prithvi Highway to open a one-way traffic track. However, technical experts are still evaluating the landslide risks, officials said.

According to Roads Department spokesperson Nyaupane, technical evaluations will determine how much wall to cut, and where to apply soil nailing (a method to stabilize walls by inserting steel rods) or micropiling (installing deep foundation piles).

“We plan to open the track within a few days, but if risk of landslides persists, experts will assess it before any decision is taken,” he said.

“Decisions will be made on how wide the track should be and when to reopen vehicle operations.”

Roads Department Director General Vijay Jaisi, who visited Krishnabhir with a technical team on Sunday, stated that work has started on opening a track in the old ‘complex landslide’ area and assessments of the latest conditions are ongoing.

“There are small cracks visible at the upper landslide area. We are trying to stop this immediately and plan to open the track as soon as possible, but the timeline is not clear at this moment,” Jaisi said.

According to the Roads Department, although cuts have occurred at Parewa Bhir section on the Prithvi Highway from the bottom, opening the road from there does not pose the same risks as at Krishnabhir.

At Phurkekhola, which connects to Dhadingbesi, a Bailey bridge from China is awaited.

Currently, the available Bailey bridges are insufficient, so officials from the Roads Department are seeking either at least an 80-meter-long Bailey bridge or considering steel bridge installation options.

Nepal’s Consul General in Lhasa, Laxmi Prasad Niraula, confirmed on Friday that among the aid supplies sent from China to Nepal are two 100-meter-long Bailey bridges, which are expected to arrive via the Korla border point.

“The dispatch of 100-meter-long double-lane Bailey bridges addresses the immediate needs considering Nepal currently only has shorter Bailey bridges,” Niraula explained.

“We initially requested 30 Bailey bridges of various lengths, and the Chinese government has pledged to continue supporting this demand.”

Officials have also stated that studies are underway to install and operate Bailey bridges on partially damaged bridges.

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