Traffic on Dhaka-Sylhet highway to be disrupted for bridge repairs

The Sherpur Bridge over the Kushiyara River on the Sylhet-Dhaka National Highway will remain completely closed to traffic for 10 hours from 11:00pm Friday (February 28) for renovation work, the authorities announced.

The Moulvibazar Roads and Highways Department, in coordination with local authorities, said that the long-overdue repairs will address the bridge's deteriorating condition.

The structure, in use since 1990, has caused severe traffic congestion due to a damaged deck slab, forcing the authorities to restrict movement on one side.

The bridge is a crucial link to the Sylhet divisional headquarters, with thousands of vehicles crossing it daily. Regular commuters have expressed frustration over the frequent delays.

"A bus I was on, which usually reaches Sherpur at 10:30pm, arrived at 12:30am due to the congestion," said Kabi Mohidur Rahman, a frequent traveller.

To mitigate disruptions, traffic will be diverted via three alternative routes during the closure: Dhaka-Shayestaganj-Mirpur (Bahubal)-Sreemangal-Moulvibazar-Rajnagar-Fenchuganj to Sylhet, Dhaka-Sylhet Highway via Shayestaganj-Sherpur-Moulvibazar-Rajnagar-Fenchuganj to Sylhet and for Sunamganj-bound vehicles: Dhaka-Shayestaganj-Saidpur (Nabiganj)-Raniganj-Jagannathpur.

The repair work will be carried out overnight to minimise inconvenience, said AKM Mohammad Fazlul Karim, project director of the Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor Road Development Project.

Kaiser Hamid, executive engineer of the Roads and Highways Department, assured that traffic flow would be restored promptly after completion.

Local authorities expect the renovation to ease congestion and improve travel conditions in the long run.