YANGON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A temporary bailey bridge replacing the Gote Twin Bridge blown up by armed groups last Thursday is due to open for traffic later on Tuesday after emergency reconstruction work was completed on Monday, according to the Construction Ministry.
With steel frames installed, the bailey bridge allows trucks and vans weighing less than 36 tons to cross after load test, a ministry official said.
Twenty eight engineers from the Department of Bridges and over 100 skilled workers were involved in the non-stop five-day construction of the major bridge which stands on the Mandalay-Lashio-Muse road, a main border trade route in the northern Shan state that links China.
Traders said over 5,000 vehicles passed through the Gote Twin Bridge carrying commodities worth 15 million U.S. dollars daily to the Muse border trade point.
Three Northern Alliance armed groups -- the Arakan Army (AA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), launched artillery shells at five places in Mandalay region and Shan state in the early hours of last Thursday (Aug. 15), killing 15 including civilians, policemen and military personnel with 13 others injured.
Places attacked include Pyin Oo Lwin, Nawnghkio, Kutkai and Lashio, and the Gote Twin bridge was among some bridges blown up by the armed groups which halted the traffic between Mandalay and Lashio.
The Defense Services Technological Academy, some toll gates, police outposts, a narcotic checkpoint and two local battalion headquarters in Pyin Oo Lwin and Kyaukme were also attacked.
The armed groups also burned down a petrol station on Lashio-Hsenwi road.
Meanwhile, Myanmar military authorities called on stakeholders to effectively engage in peace talks without delay during the granted ceasefire period which will end on Aug. 31.
