Entry of heavy vehicles on Cauvery Bridge restricted

Acting on a request of Highways Department, the police have enforced restriction on entry of vehicles on the Cauvery bridge, where the Highways Department has undertaken repair after gaping holes appeared at joints.

Though there is no restriction on two-wheeler traffic on the bridge, officials have enforced a ban on heavy vehicles from both directions of the bridge. No vehicles, except two wheelers, are being allowed from northern side of the bridge.

The police have put up barricades to restrict the entry of vehicles from northern side. The vehicles coming from Chathram Bus Stand to Srirangam and Thiruvanaikoil are being diverted via Oyyamari Road and Kumbakonathan Salai. Taken by surprise, many motorists question the necessity of restricting the traffic movement on the Cauvery bridge.

When contacted, a senior official of Highways Department told

The Hindu that the restriction was imposed to avoid excessive load on the bridge where repair work was on to plug the hole on a few places. The holes at a few joints of the bridge have been identified and rectified. There was a need to give sufficient time to cure the cement concrete work. However, it was important to maintain low volume of traffic for the next five days.

He said that the repair work had almost been completed. Officials were closely monitoring the bridge. If fresh problems were noticed, the contractors would take immediate steps to take remedial measures.

The renovation of the bridge commenced in November last year at a cost of Rs.1.5 crore under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development. However, the bridge work was subjected to criticism after gaping holes appeared on the Cauvery bridge.