Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win together with member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Aung Htwe, Chairman of Shan State (North) Peace and Development Council Commander of North East Command Maj-Gen Myint Hlaing, the ministers, the deputy minister, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office and heads of departments, arrived by helicopter at Thanlwin Bridge (Tarpar) in Kutkai on 18 March 2005.
They were welcomed by Brig-Gen Than Win of Laukkai Station, officials, engineers, departmental personnel, local people and members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association.
Deputy Superintending Engineer U Than Swe of Bridge Construction Special Project Group-9 of Public Works reported to the Prime Minister on construction and progress of work.
Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Myint Thein reported on arrival of construction materials for the project. Commander Maj-Gen Myint Hlaing reported on construction of approach roads and completion of the roads near the bridge.
Shan State Superintending Engineer of PW U Kyaw Min Thein reported on upgrading of 66-mile Kutkai-Monsi-Tarpar road and other rural roads.
Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt reported on measures taken for progress of rural roads in the region.
Next, local national race leaders reported on difficulty when crossing the Thanlwin River and development prospects after completion of the bridge.
The Prime Minister then gave necessary instructions. He presented fruit baskets to those who participated in the construction of the bridge and Deputy Superintending Engineer U Than Swe. The Prime Minister inspected installation of suspender. The 600-foot Thanlwin Bridge (Tarpar), a suspension one, is on Kutkai-TarmoNye-Monsi-Tarshwehtan road. The motorway is 16 feet and 4 inches wide.
It can withstand 60 tons of loads and 80 per cent of the project has now been completed. The Prime Minister inspected the site and greeted local people.