All bridges within a 100-km radius of Barpak, the epicentre of last year’s Great Earthquake, escaped major structural damage, according to the Department of Roads.

“Our study has found that although the impact of earthquake is visible in many bridges, none of them have been rendered not motorable,” said Saroj Pradhan, chief at the DoR’s Bridge Branch. “Three bridges in the area were destroyed, but due to landslides and floods rather than the earthquake.”

The DoR had conducted the study on the condition of 400 bridges in the 100-km radius of Barpak. “Works are on to repair the bridges which have suffered minor damages. We expect the repair works to be completed within the current fiscal year,” Pradhan added.

The three bridges–over Jayashwori Khola in the Narayanghat-Butwal road section; over Charmawati Khola in the Dolakha-Jiri road section and over Madi Khola in the Libang-Darbot road section–have already been replaced with Bailey bridges, Pradhan explained, stressing on the need to keep such bridges in stock for use as and when required.