Old Kollidam bridge to be dismantled soon

The Department of Highways has decided to demolish the old steel girder bridge across the Kollidam river, a portion of the bridge was washed away in August last year due to heavy flow of water.

A proposal has been sent to the State government, seeking its nod for demolishing the remaining portion of the bridge.

R. Krishnasamy, Divisional Engineer, Highways, Construction and Maintenance, told The Hindu that the old bridge, built around 90 years ago, had been in disuse after a new bridge was constructed and opened for traffic in February 2016.

The work of demolishing the bridge would begin as soon as the Government cleared the proposal.

He said the project would have no financial burden on the State government. There was no need for blasting the bridge as the steel bridge could be dismantled manually. It would not have any impact on the new bridge, Mr. Krishnasamy added.

The steel girder bridge across the Kollidam, built around 90 years ago to replace a brick-arched structure that got washed away in the 1924 floods, collapsed on August 19. The steel girder structure between the 18th and 19th piers went down in the water gradually. It was subsequently washed away. About 1.5 lakh cusecs of water was flowing in the Kollidam when the bridge collapsed.

The 792-meter-length bridge, connecting Alagiripuram in Thiruvanaikovil in the city with No.1 Tolgate on NH 45, served the people since 1928. It has 23 piers. The British-era bridge was originally designed for 60 years. But, it had served about 30 years more than the designed period.