With a major part of construction of the road over-bridge across the level-crossing at Lalgudi having been completed, the Highways Department is focussing its attention on providing service roads in the area.
The work, which commenced in 2010 at an estimate of Rs.20 crore, witnessed a series of hurdles and it was suspended for about a year during 2012-2013 only to be resumed later.
“At every phase, the work has been posing a challenge. Now, it is the enormous seepage of groundwater which is posing a challenge in constructing a small bridge on the Periya Vaikkal in front of the road over bridge.
The Highways Department has evolved a systematic plan for constructing the bridge. The bridge is being constructed in two phases, dividing it into two equal parts. While the first phase leading to the bus stand had been completed, the present work is being executed leading to the road over bridge. Foundation is being laid at a depth of 11 metres when seepage of water from the adjoining Vaikkal has been posing a problem. The officials are using a high power engine to pump out the water.
Further, the service road could be laid only after the land is acquired and handed over to the Highways Department. “A number of shops are located close to the bridge and the service road could be laid only after acquiring a part of shops from its entrance for laying the road,” say the sources. Expeditious action would facilitate the department to complete the work well within the schedule of February 2016.
The bridge with 19 spans runs to a length of 500 metres. The railways have also completed the work in their jurisdiction.
Traffic chaos
Traffic chaos has been a major problem on the Tiruchi – Lalgudi highway as the bus stand has been closed. Traffic is compounded during peak hours due to huge volume of trucks transporting raw materials or finished products from cement factories in Ariyalur district.
