Yangon-Mandalay Expressway enforces 23-tonne cap, bars overloaded vehicles

THE Yangon-Mandalay Ex­pressway allows a maximum gross weight of 23 tonnes per vehicle, including passengers and cargo, and any overloaded vehicles exceeding this limit will not be permitted to use the expressway under any cir­cumstances, according to the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway Maintenance and Supervision Committee.

On 28 March, the powerful Mandalay earthquake caused serious damage to the Swa Creek Bridge located between milepost 165/1 and milepost 165/3 on the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway. As a result, the bridge on the route from Nay Pyi Taw to Yangon is currently being rebuilt.

“The bridge on the Yan­gon-Nay Pyi Taw route is pres­ently being used on an emer­gency temporary basis, with props installed beneath the bridge and Bailey steel beams fitted on the deck. Therefore, to ensure safe use until the com­pletion of the reconstruction by the end of March 2026, only ve­hicles with a total weight of up to 23 tonnes, including passen­gers and cargo, are permitted to cross,” said a responsible offi­cial from the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway Maintenance and Supervision Committee.

It is understood that at ex­pressway toll-gate weighbridg­es, large passenger buses and authorized cargo vehicles are permitted to carry a maximum total load of 23 tonnes, includ­ing the vehicle, passengers and goods. For each permitted ve­hicle category, the allowable number of passengers and the specified cargo weight limits are also clearly displayed in tabulated form.

Vehicles with a total weight exceeding 23 tonnes will not be allowed to use the expressway at all and must instead travel via alternative routes, it has been announced. — MNA/KNN