GANGA BRIDGE AT BHAGALPUR

This article reviews the construction of a major road bridge in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The bridge featured four different types of structure relating to the four types of ground: approach viaduct of box girder spans on shallow-foundation piers; spans over the deepest part of the river on well-foundation piers; spans across the flood plain on well foundations, and spans across the backwater plains. Deep well foundations were necessary to withstand the effect of scouring in high water season. Construction problems included flooding which displaced some of the unfinished well foundations. For large-diameter wells, sheet pile islands had to be constructed, and for the greatest water depths floating steel caissons were installed to enable well sinking. The construction project suffered considerable cost increase and time delay.