New Cauvery bridge likely by December

TIRUCHI: The construction of the super-structure on the new bridge coming up across the river Cauvery as part of the four-lane Tiruchi-Chennai National Highway has gathered momentum following the closure of the bridge.

With Union Minister for Highways T.R. Baalu inspecting the site twice during September in an attempt to speed up the work, project concessionaire Navayuga-Indu-Abhisek has accorded priority for the completion of the Cauvery and the Coleroon bridges. All the piles for the bridge, with 15 spans, have been erected. Work was apace on laying the concrete deck slabs.

Officials said that the Cauvery bridge would completed by December end. “We are working towards completing the four-lane carriage way between Padalur and the Cauvery bridge, on the 38-km long Tiruchi-Padalur section, by the end of December. The remaining section, up to Mannarpuram, would be completed by March/April.”

With no water flow in the Coleroon, construction has been going on smoothly there and the new bridge is expected to be ready by November end.

The city police have enforced an elaborate traffic diversion plan in view of the closure of the Cauvery bridge. Traffic would be allowed on the bridge for a week from October 22, in view of the Deepavali festival. It would be closed again on October 30.