Howrah Bridge: icon of a 330-year-old city in India – part II: construction and upkeep

Construction of a bridge with a main span of 457 m (1500 ft) and side spans of 99 m (325 ft), across a river that carried fleets of rivercraft on a regular basis and therefore not available to support the construction activity, was a challenging task in the 1940s. The balanced cantilever bridge, constructed by cantilevering from both ends and resting on foundations located on the banks, transferring huge loads on the soft clay, silt and sand founding strata, required careful planning and attention to details. The construction work required deployment of customised tools and equipment that had to be designed and built in advance. In-built provisions were made to take care of effects of foundation settlements. Closure of the large cantilevers was a big challenge, well attended by the builder. The upkeep of the bridge in Kolkata, India has been excellent with a dedicated maintenance cell in position.