Movement of heavy vehicles has been banned on the 17-year-old bridge across Varthur lake weir — the only link between Whitefield and Varthur — after local residents sounded out civic agencies about damage to the structure.
Civic officials rushed to the spot on Tuesday after residents complained that the structure was unstable, and reported ‘earthquake-like vibrations’ when heavy vehicles passed.
Jagadish Reddy of Varthur Rising said that residents had complained to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in 2016, after which the palike conducted a study that recommended some measures, which were not implemented. “The bridge has been brought to this sorry state due to lack of maintenance. Earlier, vibrations were felt only when heavy vehicles passed, but now they are felt even when cars and two-wheelers pass by,” he said.
Somashekhar, chief engineer, Major Road Infrastructure, BBMP said some years remain in the life cycle of the bridge and it can be resurrected. “We had conducted a study in 2016, which showed the bearings between the vertical pillars and the horizontal deck slab, whose role is to provide for non-rigid movement of the two, had begun malfunctioning. They have to be replaced. We will do it soon,” he said.
The bearings are part of any flyover and need to be taken up for maintenance every 15 years, he said. A team of experts are set to conduct a structural audit of the bridge on Wednesday following which the next course of action will be decided.
“Traffic needs to be diverted,” he added.
The BBMP’s late intervention has irked residents. Mr. Reddy said a parallel, older bridge that was in use, was demolished recently, leaving the damaged bridge as the only link between Whitefield and Varthur. “Now, traffic has to be barred during maintenance, which will lead to chaos,” he said.
BBMP officials said one of the reasons for the bridge developing this problem is the explosion in traffic volume in the area. The civic body had already planned to construct three bridges parallel to the existing one to ease the load. However, construction is yet to begin.
Arvind Limbavali, MLA, Mahadevapura, said, “A detailed examination by a senior engineer on the state of the bridge would be done in the coming days. Necessary action will be taken. Safety measures are being contemplated, in the best interests of the general public.”
