Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will loan $260 million to Bangladesh for the construction of a bridge that will use cutting-edge technology to improve safety and promote early structural damage detection. The Kewatkhali Bridge, set to be Bangladesh's first arch steel bridge, will significantly reduce traffic congestion in Mymensingh's northern city centre by diverting traffic away from the congested city centre. Furthermore, the new bridge will be part of the Dhaka-Mymensingh-India border corridor, which is crucial for local and regional connectivity. Over 11 million people in Bangladesh's northern region will benefit from increased mobility and integration of local and regional markets once the project is completed. The bridge will also reduce travel time for people and vehicles while also helping to reduce carbon emissions. Bridges, like in other river delta environments, play an important role in Bangladesh's transportation network. AIIB sees the financing of the Kewatkhali Bridge in Mymensingh as an opportunity to use cutting-edge technology in bridge maintenance and management to improve structural performance, service life, and bridge safety for residents and motorists, said AIIB Senior Investment Operations Specialist Natalia Sanz. The project includes a proposed Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS), which will be used to provide early warnings of structural issues in the main bridge, according to Sanz. Data on load and environmental effects, as well as bridge responses, will be collected in real time and interfaced with a bridge rating system, allowing for more efficient monitoring and assisting in the development of a systematic approach to periodic inspection. Engineers can develop models to distinguish the effects of maintenance activity from normal wear and tear by studying changes in bridge conditions over time. The most recent advances in this field include deepening our understanding of physical deterioration processes, particularly the effect of structural damage on the reliability and performance of structural components, according to Sanz. A key component of the project is the training and institutional development of the National Roads and Highways Department in the maintenance and operation of an arch steel bridge and the use of the BHMS. Image Source Also read: Maitri Setu: The Gateway of Northeast Also read: RITES consortium secures Bangladesh rail project