Traffic between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan has been fully restored following the installation of a new steel bridge in Mahandri, Kaghan Valley. The 33-foot-wide bridge replaces the main structure that was swept away by flash floods last year.
The previous temporary bridge had led to serious traffic jams, especially during the tourism season. To complete the new bridge, authorities had earlier closed the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad (MNJ) road for three days, allowing safe construction over the Mahandri stream, a tributary of the Kunhar River.
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During the closure, the National Highway Authority set up a temporary ramp beside the bridge to allow emergency and limited tourist movement.
With the project now complete, two-way traffic has resumed, making travel smoother between the two regions. The new bridge is expected to cut travel times and provide an alternative route to the Karakoram Highway.
Locals and business owners celebrated the reopening by distributing sweets and offering prayers. Many welcomed the upgrade, calling it a big step for tourism and trade in the region.
Authorities believe the new bridge will not only improve connectivity but also bring long-term benefits for economic activity in northern Pakistan.
