Reports have emerged about damage to the historic Goteik Viaduct located on the Mandalay-Lashio railway line in northern Shan State. Military-affiliated lobbies have begun spreading propaganda regarding the damage, accusing ethnic armed organizations and People’s Defense Forces of the destruction. All military-supporting Telegram channels started distributing photos of the damaged bridge this morning, engaging in one-sided propaganda claiming that the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and PDF forces had destroyed the bridge with explosives.
The Goteik Viaduct is a historical structure built during the British colonial period. Construction began in 1899 and was completed in 1900, though it wasn’t put into service until 1903. Located 7 miles beyond Naung Cho station, the bridge spans two steep gorges over 300 feet deep in the area known as Goteik. The bridge derives its name from its location at the top of the Goteik gorge. The structure is a testament to colonial-era engineering and has been a significant part of Myanmar’s transportation infrastructure for over a century.
The viaduct measures 2,260 feet in length and rises approximately 1,100 feet above the water level of the small stream at its base. Its construction required 4,311 tons of steel and iron, along with over one million rivets. The bridge was painstakingly constructed using ten 120-foot spans and sixteen 60-foot spans supported by sixteen steel pillars. The destruction of this historic bridge represents the loss of an important piece of Myanmar’s architectural and cultural heritage. The engineering marvel had stood for over a century as a symbol of industrial achievement and had been recognized worldwide for its impressive design and construction.
