"CONSTRUCTION of a new bridge over the Kinchaung Creek in Kyaukphyu Township, Rakhine State began on 1 June 2017 and is scheduled to be completed in April 2020, according to an official from the Special Construction Group – 8 of the Department of Bridge under the Ministry of Construction. The 1,256-ft long Kinchaung Bridge on the Yangon-Kyaukphyu Road is being built with K 6,730 million ( around € 5 million) interest-free loan from Austria. Construction of the bridge is expected to take two years and three months to finish and withstand up to 75 tons of weight, the official who is tasked with supervising the bridge construction project said. The bridge is being constructed mostly from reinforced concrete and has a 3 ft. long pedestrian walkway on each side. Once completed, it can easily connect the Kyaukphyu- Laytaung-Taungup-Sitway Road and residents from nearby areas will be able use the new structure in all seasons with greater ease, thereby contributing to socioeconomic development of the area. The facility will also directly link the Yangon-Sitway Road with Laytaung from one side and Kyauk Chaung from another side, he added. Upon completion of the bridge, marine products from nearby areas can easily be transported to other regions and states via land routes, providing better road transportation for locals. In addition, the bridge is expected to promote development of the area, facilitate swift flow of goods, and reduce transportation charges. “If the construction of the bridge is finished as scheduled, we will be able to easily transport fishery products from our region to major cities without any delays. We once relied on motor boats for transportation,” said a resident. The bridge will be vital to link Rakhine State with other regions and will contribute to the development of Kyaukphyu Township. Road transport will no longer be a headache for local people who once experienced travel delays and access barriers to other areas..."