Cauvery bridge on Tiruchi-Chennai Bypass to be reopened for traffic by October 15

The repair and maintenance work under way on the Cauvery bridge on the Chennai-Tiruchi–Madurai National Highway would be completed by October 15, according to Tiruchi Member of Parliament Durai Vaiko and sources in the National Highways Authority of India.

The reopening of the bridge for traffic would bring a huge relief to commuters as the Tiruchi-Chennai Trunk Road in Srirangam has been facing severe traffic congestion ever since the bridge was closed for repair work.

Built in 1963, the bridge is undergoing extensive repairs at an estimated cost of ₹10 crore. It was closed on June 25 to facilitate repairs by the NHAI’s concessionaire maintaining the section and traffic has been diverted via the other carriageway between Sanjeevi Nagar Junction and Kondayampettai. The closure of the bridge had resulted in a large number of drivers using the Tiruchi-Chennai Trunk Road which runs across Srirangam to and from the NH.

Residents of Srirangam have been complaining of harrowing experiences during their daily commute in recent months because of severe traffic congestion on the Tiruchi-Chennai Trunk Road between No. 1 Tollgate and the Anna Statue Junction.

Traffic hold-ups had become common right from the Chinthamani traffic signal and on the old Cauvery bridge in the city, the overbridge at Thiruvanaikovil and the Kollidam bridge right through the day. Bumper-to-bumper traffic has become the order of the day on most days. Chaos prevailed at the automatic traffic signal at Mambazhasalai, complain residents.

“The NHAI authorities had earlier informed me that the work would be completed by October 10. But they needed more time due to some additional work. Given the heavy traffic congestion in the alternative routes and the approaching Deepavali festival season, I had requested the NHAI officials to complete the work without any delay. The NHAI officials have assured me the work would be completed fully by October 15,” Mr. Durai Vaiko said.

The repair work includes replacing 120 bridge bearings, maintaining 14 support pillars, repairing 16 strip-seal expansion joints, and carrying out structural strengthening measures. The bridge was last repaired in 2010.

Sources in the NHAI told The Hindu that all the 120 bearings had been replaced and repairs on 15 of the 16 expansion joints had been completed. At present, work was under way on the final expansion joint and repairs to the pedestrian pathway. All the work would be completed by October 15, they added.