First Arch Bridge Completed on Alternative Karakoram Highway Route

A major infrastructure milestone has been achieved along the Karakoram Highway, with the first arch bridge completed on the alternative 52-kilometre route being developed as part of the Dasu Hydropower Project.

The Chinese company working on the Dasu hydropower project has completed construction of the Dogah Concrete Arch Bridge, marking an important step in the development of the alternative section of the Karakoram Highway.

The bridge has been constructed over Dogah Nullah and measures 78 metres in length. It is 11.3 metres wide and includes a 10-metre-wide carriageway along with shoulders.

The completion of the bridge is expected to support improved connectivity along the alternative route. The new road section is being developed to provide an important transport link in the region surrounding the Dasu Hydropower Project.

The Karakoram Highway is a strategically important road connecting different parts of northern Pakistan. It passes through mountainous terrain where transportation infrastructure faces significant engineering and construction challenges.

Building bridges along this route requires specialized construction techniques because of the region’s steep mountains, valleys, rivers and seasonal weather conditions. The completion of the Dogah Concrete Arch Bridge represents progress in overcoming some of these challenges.

The 52-kilometre alternative stretch is associated with infrastructure development linked to the Dasu Hydropower Project. Improved road connectivity is important for transporting construction materials, equipment and other supplies required for major infrastructure projects.

The bridge’s design also reflects the need to build durable infrastructure capable of serving traffic in a mountainous environment. Its 10-metre carriageway, supported by shoulders, provides space for vehicles using the route.

The completion of the Dogah bridge could also benefit communities and businesses located along the alternative road corridor. Better road connectivity can make transportation easier and improve access to markets and essential services.

The Dasu Hydropower Project is one of Pakistan’s major energy infrastructure initiatives and is being developed with Chinese cooperation. Supporting road infrastructure is an important part of ensuring connectivity around large projects in remote areas.

The completion of the first arch bridge provides a visible indication of progress on the alternative Karakoram Highway route. Further construction work on the remaining sections will determine when the full 52-kilometre stretch becomes operational.

Infrastructure development in northern Pakistan is particularly significant because road links play a vital role in connecting remote communities with major commercial and administrative centres.

The Dogah Concrete Arch Bridge is therefore more than a single construction milestone. It forms part of a wider effort to improve transportation infrastructure around the Dasu project and strengthen connectivity in the region.

As work continues on the alternative route, additional bridges and road structures will be important for completing the corridor through the challenging mountainous landscape.

The completion of the 78-metre Dogah Concrete Arch Bridge marks another step forward in Pakistan’s ongoing infrastructure development and highlights the scale of engineering work required to improve road connectivity along the Karakoram Highway corridor.