NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, JAN 18
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is planning to retrofit/renovate three over bridges, which are aged over 50 years at an estimated cost of Rs. 15-crore, corporation sources said.
It was found that the bearings of the bridges – Vaithyanathan bridge in Tondiarpet, Parthasarathy Bridge in Old Washermenpet connecting Mint and the overbridge across Captain Cotton Canal connecting Meenambal Road with Mahakavi Bharathi Nagar were worn out and the repair and rehabilitation are imminent.
A top official of GCC said that retrofitting is an economical mode alternative to replace or reconstruction of the entire flyover. If retrofitting using modern technologies, these bridges can withstand wear and tear for another two decades.
The bridge bearings, under the decking (over which vehicles ply), shifted positions over the years due to vehicle movement and will have to be replaced. “A hydraulic jack will be used to lift the decking and replace the bearings,” he said.
With traffic expected to be affected when the repair work is undertaken, corporation officials will meet police officers to chalk out a plan. If everything goes well as per schedule, the project can be completed in 18 months. Traffic can be allowed only on one side while work is under progress on the other side of the road.
Necessary statutory procedures, including floating of tenders, have already begun. The estimated cost of the renovation of the Parthasarathy bridge is Rs. 8 crore, Vaidyanathan bridge Rs. 4.7 crore and Captain Canal bridge Rs. 1.7 crore.
The corporation will out work out a traffic plan to ensure that the general public is not affected while the work on renovation is going on, an official said.
