Construction on China-Maldives Friendship Bridge gears up

Construction on the bearing platforms of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge was completed on July 6, marking the beginning of the superstructure work.

Mohamed Muizzu, Maldivian Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, witnessed this important progress of the project and hailed China's building technologies and speed.

The bridge, which connects the Maldivian capital Malé with the island of Hulhulé, where the Malé International Airport is located, has a total length of 2.1 kilometers.

After completion, it will become the first bridge in Maldives' history and the first sea-crossing bridge over the Indian Ocean. It is designed with a service life of 100 years.

The project, which was inauguratedon December 30, 2015, is expected to open to traffic in August 2018. It is expected to ease traffic pressure on Malé and offer quick access to the airport by land.

The project, part of the Belt and Road Initiative, was undertaken by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).