: The Moidu bridge on the National Highway at Dharmadom near Thalassery has been closed to all heavy vehicles, including buses following the damage caused to the 85-year-old steel bridge when hit by a truck in the early hours of October 5.
The closure of the bridge for all vehicles except cars, autorickshaws and two-wheelers is expected to cause inconvenience to local bus passengers, while an alternative route through Chala-Mamakunnu-Melur is being used by the trucks and buses plying in the Kannur-Kozhikode route. Public Works Department (NH Division) officials said that the ongoing works of the parallel bridge under construction will be completed in December.
The bridge suffered damages when a truck hit the tie and bracing on the upper part of the bridge at 3 a.m. on Monday. The truck was stuck in the bridge for hours. A case has been registered at the Dharmadom police station for violating the restriction for heavy vehicles on the bridge. The truck is now in police custody. “The tie and bracing that has been damaged is a load-bearing part of the bridge,” said Sunil Koileriyil, Assistant Executive Engineer of the NH Division here. He said that the bridge will be closed with sand bags. He also said that the works for the approach roads of the new bridge built parallel to the Moidu bridge will begin in a couple of days. While the bridge has been completed, earthwork for the approach roads remains, he added.
