The guide wall running to a distance of 19 metres along the historic 600-metre-long Albert Victor Bridge connecting northern and southern parts of the city suddenly collapsed on Friday.
Incessant rain for the last two days in and around Madurai is seen as the prime reason for the mishap, said a team of Highways engineers after inspecting the spot in the morning.
The structure of the century-old AV Bridge is safe and there is no need to worry. Only the guide wall, which had gone weak, had collapsed, Highways officials said and added that the wall on the right side (from Goripalayam junction towards Simakkal) near Sri Meenakshi Government College for Women had fallen in the early hours.
As a temporary measure, steps had been taken to cover the portion with materials so that pedestrians may not fall by accident. After preparing a work proposal and obtaining sanction, tender would be called for and the guide wall constructed.
Using the latest technology, called “crafts barrier method,” the guide wall would be built in about two to three months, the engineers said.
During the recent Chithirai festival, when Lord Kallazhagar entered the Vaigai, many government and VIP vehicles of Ministers, MLAs and others alone were permitted on the AV Bridge. According to a traffic police officer, a heavy vehicle banged the guide wall in the early hours while attempting to take a ‘U’ turn on the bridge. Since then, the wall had weakened gradually and the continuous rain had led to its collapse.
Fate of other bridges
While Highways engineers asserted that the AV Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in these parts, was safe despite having surpassed its lifetime, the condition of other road and rail bridges in the city was far from satisfactory. The approach roads leading to the bridges had to be re-laid and classic example was the Muthu Bridge. The bridges near Madura Coats, South Gate and Periyar bus stand had to be attended to on a war footing.
