Design of the Padma road and rail bridge, Bangladesh

The 6⋅15-km-long Padma road and rail bridge will become a landmark structure in Bangladesh and one of the largest river crossings in the world. The design encountered significant engineering challenges, particularly from the hostile site conditions and the merciless forces of nature. During the monsoon season the Padma River becomes fast flowing, and is susceptible to deep scour, demanding deep, piled foundations. The bridge site is also in an area of considerable seismic activity, leading to significant seismic loads being exerted on the structure. In the design, extensive engineering studies were conducted, advanced computational analyses were employed and innovative engineering solutions were developed to ensure that the bridge will be able to survive the challenges of nature in its long design working life. The project has accumulated a significant body of knowledge in seismic-resilient and scour-tolerant design, and it has advanced understanding of bridge behaviour in conditions of severe earthquake and deep riverbed scour.