The Karachi Traffic Police will close both carriageways of the Malir River Bridge on the National Highway for two days [1].
The closure is expected to cause significant disruptions for commuters using the National Highway, a primary artery for transport and logistics in Karachi. Because the bridge is a critical link, the temporary shutdown forces traffic to find alternative routes during peak hours.
The restrictions are scheduled from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 18, 2026, and July 19, 2026 [2]. This specific window allows crews to perform high-impact work while attempting to keep the bridge open for night-time transit.
The closure is necessary to carry out development and construction work related to the under-construction Malir Expressway project, the Karachi Traffic Police said [1]. The project aims to improve urban mobility and reduce congestion in the region by providing a high-speed corridor.
Both sides of the bridge will be inaccessible during the designated hours [2]. The total duration of the closure spans two days [1].
Authorities have not specified alternative routes in the official announcement, but the closure of both carriageways means no vehicle traffic can pass through the bridge during the 12-hour daily windows. The construction on the Malir Expressway is part of a larger effort to modernize the city's infrastructure, a process that frequently requires temporary shutdowns of existing roads.
“Both carriageways of the Malir River Bridge on the National Highway will be temporarily closed.”
The temporary closure of the Malir River Bridge highlights the logistical challenges of integrating new high-speed infrastructure into a densely populated urban environment. By shutting down a primary National Highway link, the city prioritizes the long-term completion of the Malir Expressway over immediate traffic flow, suggesting that the project has reached a critical construction phase requiring total site access.
