ISLAMABAD: The Natio­nal Highway Authority (NHA) has rejected impression regarding weak-ness of the old Hub bridge that links Karachi with Balochistan, saying it is structurally stable and there is nothing wrong with it.

An NHA spokesman while responding to questions raised in a video circulating on social media regarding the bridge said the bridge is 500 metres long, having 21 spans. The bridge was built 50 years ago.

Speaking about the pillars’ shape which are not looking straight in the video, the spokesman said that was according to the original design of the structure of the bridge. Jacketing of piles was already carried out by the NHA in 2017-18.

In order to enhance the service life of this bridge, the NHA has also carried out asphalt and replaced the expansion joint of this bridge. The scoring of piles which is evident in the viral video has occurred due to outflow of excess water from the Hub Dam during the current cyclonic rainfall.

Apart from this, the main problem is illegal collection of soil, sand and Bajri by tra­c­­tor owners, due to which the pillars have been expo­sed up to natural ground level. The NHA has recommended that the local administration impose a ban on collection of sand etc underneath this bridge.

Similarly, with the advice of structural experts of the NHA, rehabilitation works have been carried out rece­n­tly, including removing and replacing old expansion joints. Asphaltic wearing course has been carried out this year.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2020