Work to restore the iconic landmark, Anna arch will commence on Wednesday.
Supporting steel cribs have already been mobilised and stacked at the work spot. According to sources in the Highways Department, which is to take up the repair work, the crane holding up one of the arches would be moved in 10 days time.
“Once the cribs are in place and some initial works taken up, the crane can be removed,” said an official.
The arch was to be dismantled to make way for a Rs. 117 crore-flyover at the junction of Poonamallee High Road and Anna Nagar 3 Avenue. Though the State government had announced last week that the arches would not be demolished, there was some confusion as to whether the present arches could be demolished and new ones constructed in their place as a portion of the arch had been cut. The decision also meant a change in the design of the flyover. But on Monday, things became clearer after a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who said the arches must be restored and the work should commence on Wednesday.
Sources said it would take four months to complete the work in which the damaged steel rods would be replaced and strengthened with additional rods. A higher grade of cement concrete would be used to provide additional strength to the structures. The help of a consultant would be sought in completing the restoration, they said.
The arches had been constructed to mark the platinum jubilee of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai and inaugurated by the then Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran on January 1, 1986.
