Bridge resting on an ice body at high altitude

In some of the snow-bound, glaciated regions of the high mountains, roads may have to pass over ice. In most cases, the road alinement is selected to avoid large stretches of ice; smaller ice bodies are either not permanent (forming only in winter), or can be easily destroyed, as well as the road formation constructed over them. The bridge described in this paper is of a semi-permanent nature and is founded upon a perennial ice body in a very cold and glaciated mountainous region of Northern India, at an altitude of 5,580 m (18,307 ft) above sea level. This is a unique motorable bridge which has the triple distinction of being the world’s highest, of being semi-permanent, and of being founded upon a permanent ice body. Described here are the sequence of events which led to the construction of this bridge and details of the construction.