What is Submergible Bridge?
A submersible bridge sinks under the water when the river level rises due to flooding. Submersible bridges have been built all over the world since long ago because they are easy to build. In Japan today, ordinary bridges are built at a higher level, based on the water level that is expected to occur every few decades, while submersible bridges are built at a lower level near the water surface, making them smaller and less expensive.
Why build submergible bridges in Myanmar?
In rural Myanmar, there are many areas where streams that can be crossed on foot during the dry season become so deep during the rainy season that traffic is blocked. Bridges made of wood by the residents are washed away by the frequent floods, and daily life and economic activities are severely disrupted as people have to use boats to carry their vehicles across.
In order to quickly secure road traffic in the underdeveloped rural areas of Myanmar, JIP is working on the construction of submergible bridges and providing technical guidance to spread the technology.
Conventional bridge and JIP’s submergible bridge 
Bridge and stone monument 
Opening ceremony 
Construction site 
Technical guidance to local students 
Workshop with local engineers.
Construction Map
| No. | Name of bridge | Region | Fiscal year of construction | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yoma | Pago | 2016 | 60ｍ | |
| 2 | Teza | Magway | 2017 | 83ｍ | Including 37m of culvert bridges |
| 3 | Htein Lin | Magway | 2017 | 66ｍ | |
| 4 | Thuria | Magway | 2017 | 66ｍ | |
| 5 | Thakin | Magway | 2018 | 178ｍ | Including Magway regional government’s share of 36m |
| 6 | Metta | Magway | 2018 | 76ｍ | |
| 7 | Ohn War | Magway | 2018 | 66ｍ | |
| 8 | Aung Lan GGP | Magway | 2018 | Built by the Japanese Embassy in Myanmar’s GGP | |
| 9 | Ywar Thar | Magway | 2018 | Built by the Japanese Embassy in Myanmar’s GGP | |
| 10 | Hong Tone | Sagaing | 2019 | 56ｍ | |
| 11 | Shwe Thit Khauk | Sagaing | 2019 | 66ｍ | |
| 12 | Shwe Khone Gyi | Sagaing | 2019 | 122ｍ | Including Sagaing regional government’s share of 20m |
| 13 | Kyar Inn | Kayin | 2019 | 56ｍ | |
| 14 | Nant Thar Tabau | Sagaing | 2020-2021 | 208ｍ | |
| 15 | Moe Nine | Kayin | 2020 | 152ｍ |
Introduction Materials
JIP沈下橋建設事業紹介資料2021_English圧縮：（English）沈下橋事業紹介動画（印刷用）_20220205
Myanmars-submergible-bridge-welcomed-by-the-Japanese-flag
Project Background
One day in 2015, a JIP member visited Myanmar on business and saw a newspaper article that said, “A river in a rural area of Myanmar overflowed and washed away a bridge for the second year in a row. More than 4,000 residents were affected, including more than 100 students who were unable to go to school.”, which leads to launch the project.
The next year, JIP dispatched a survey team and decided to rebuild the bridges with the financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. It was so polular among local people that 15 submersible bridges were constructed in Myanmar over the next 5 years. In order to train local engineers through the construction of submerged bridges, workshops and other events are regularly held. In recent years, JIP has also been providing technical guidance to the local government of Myanmar, which has recognized the usefulness of submerged bridges and is constructing bridges with its own budget.
| FY2021 | Construction of a submergible bridge in Sagaing that was carried over from the last year. (funded by a grant aid from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan) |
| FY2020 | Construction of 2 submergible bridges in Sagaing Region and Kayin State (funded by a grant aid from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan) ※ The one in Sagaing is incomplete and will be carried over to the next fiscal year. |
| FY2019 | Construction of 3 submergible bridges in Sagaing Region and one in Kayin State (funded by grant aid from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan) |
| FY2019 | JIP provided technical guidance to 8 submergible bridges to be constructed with its own funds by the Magway Regional Government, which recognized the usefulness of submerged bridges. |
| FY2018 | Construction of 3 submergible bridges in Magway Region (funded by grant aid from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan) |
| Jun 2018 | While many bridges were washed away in the Magway region’s first flood in decades, the submergible bridge built by JIP was undamaged. Click here for the related post |
| May 2018 | Newly appointed Minister of Construction U Han Zou visits Teza Bridge under construction. |
| FY2018 | With the support of the Japanese Embassy in Myanmar, 2 submergible bridges were constructed in the Magway Region funded by grant aid from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. |
| FY2018 | Construction of 3 submergible bridges in Magway Region (funded by grant aid from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan) Click here for the related post |
| May 2017 | Opening ceremony of the first submergible bridge |
| Dec 2016 | Groundbreaking ceremony of the first submergible bridge |
| Nov 2016 | Reconstruction of Itone Creek Bridge has been decided to be carried out by the grant aid from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan with a limit of 35 million yen. |
| Jun 2016 | Application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare a study report and implement a reconstruction of Itone Creek Bridge. |
| May 2016 | Survey on Itone Creek Bridge which was washed away by the flood was conducted. |
| Sep 2015 | A JIP member who was visiting Myanmar on business found a newspaper article about the flooding of Itone River in Chautaga District, Bago Region, which had washed away bridges for the second year in a row and left more than 4,000 residents, including more than 100 students, unable to go to school. |