Daunne section of East-West Highway nears completion with concrete paving

Kathmandu – The construction work on the challenging Daunne section of the East-West Highway is now in its final stages. This is welcome news for passengers and drivers who have faced difficulties for a long time.

Currently, only about 50 meters of one-sided slope remains to be completed in the landslide-affected area below the Daunne temple, while the other side of the road is fully completed and open for traffic.

Considering the geographical challenges and heavy traffic, the project has opted for high-quality concrete paving (rigid pavement) instead of traditional asphalt. The Department of Roads’ Project Directorate (ADB) stated that this long-term solution was chosen to address the rapid deterioration of asphalt roads and the resulting inconvenience to the public.

According to Project Director Chudaraj Dhakal, the concrete paving on this section is expected to have a minimum lifespan of 30 years. “We have designed this structure based on the traffic forecast for the next three decades,” Dhakal said. “Even with daily traffic of 12,000 to 20,000 vehicles, the road will remain unaffected.”

The road’s load-bearing capacity is 10 tons per single axle, and if other design standards are adhered to, the road could last up to 40 years, he added.

With this high-quality construction, the government believes it will provide a long-term solution to the annual roadblocks, potholes, and maintenance hassles in the Daunne section. The project claims that once the paving work is fully completed, the persistent troubles faced by the public in this area will come to an end permanently.