U Kyi Zaw Myint, deputy director of the Bridge Management Department under the Ministry of Construction, announced that the government will announce the winner of the much anticipated project of the Yangon Elevated Expressway in April this year with work expected to kick off in July.

In December 2018, the government had shortlisted 10 bidding companies interested in building the expressway aimed at relieving the city’s traffic woes.

A top government priority, the planned four-lane ring road will connect downtown Yangon, Yangon Port, Yangon International Airport, Mingaladon Industrial Zone and the Yangon-Mandalay Highway. Phase 1 is slated to start in July and will connect Dawbon Bridge in Pazundaung Township with Waizayanda and Thudama roads, the Aung Mingala highway bus terminal and Kayaybin and Lower Mingaladon roads.

Operated under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme, the project is said to be toll-funded and to cost over USD 400 million and be completed in 2024.