The bridge coming up in Lalgudi town is likely to be thrown open for traffic by August.
The project, which commenced in 2010, had suffered a series of impediments and suffered much delay, putting residents of the town to much hardship.
Controversy had dogged the project right from the beginning with a section of people not in favour of the bridge. A section of the traders opposed the acquisition of their land for a traffic island to be built near the bus stand as part of the project and a clutch of court cases were filed against it.
Delays in land acquisition posed problems. The Highways Department resumed the project again in February last year after the cases were disposed and currently work is under way on a fast pace on the project.
K.C. Parameswaran, Chief Engineer, Highways (Projects), inspected the work on Saturday. According to sources in the Highways Department, all the piers have been erected. Seven minor bridges have been built as part of the project.
Another minor bridge has to be built at Siruthaiyur village after land acquisition.
Once this is completed, the bridge could be opened for traffic by August. The project, including the service lanes, is likely to be completed by the end of December, a couple of months ahead of schedule once the land acquisition process and shifting of utility lines is completed fully, the sources said.
The bridge with 19 spans would run for 500 metres and provide an important link between the bus stand and the southern parts of the town. Traversing this arterial road has become a tortuous ride, much worse than the trouble of having to wait in long queues whenever the railway gates are closed on the busy Tiruchi-Chennai section.
Several villages are located to the south of the railway gate. With the LNP Girls Higher Secondary School right in the middle of the project site and the Government Boys Higher Secondary School on the Tiruchi Road, schoolchildren have been the worst sufferers.
