Work on the construction of a bridge across the Uppar drain connecting Kamaraj Salai from Balaji theatre junction to Newtone theatre on Maraimalaiadigal Salai is progressing as per schedule. On completion, it is expected to ease congestion between Anna Salai and Cuddalore Road.
Work began in February and is expected to be completed in 21 months. The bridge, said to be the first of its kind in the town, will connect Kamaraj Salai and Maraimalaiadigal Salai with a concrete road across the Uppar drain, the main carriageway for sewage and rainwater.
According to a senior official of the Public Works Department, the open drain has been filled with sand to accommodate the pre-cast slabs for the bridge. The work will now be suspended in the next few days and again taken up in February after the rainy season. The bridge will be thrown open to traffic from December 2018, he said.
Work discontinued
“Although the project was conceived in 2007, the work was suspended in 2008 for administrative reasons and because of non-availability of funds. The project was postponed and the cost has now escalated to ₹43.15 crore and will be funded by the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (Hudco),” the official said.
The 7.3-km-long bridge will have a two-lane road with 7.5-m carriage way for vehicles and 1.5-m raised pavements on either side with service ducts below them. Over 80% of the pile foundation has been completed and the work is progressing as per schedule.
On completion, the bridge will reduce traffic congestion from Kamaraj Salai to Maraimalaiadigal Salai. The PWD has proposed to extend the bridge from Newtone Theatre to Colas Nagar in Uppalam in the second phase.
The location of a railway line on the stretch remains a bottleneck and the PWD is planning to do a survey for the second phase, the official added.
