All flyovers on Ramanattukara-Vengalam reach of NH-66 opened to traffic

Pooladikunnu flyover opens on NH 66, easing traffic between Ramanattukara and Vengalam; part of ongoing widening project.

With the opening of the Pooladikunnu flyover, traffic on National Highway 66 between Ramanattukara and Vengalam reach has become smoother. The Pooladikunnu flyover is the last to be opened on this stretch, as the Vengalam flyover was thrown open to traffic a week ago. One side of the flyover has been opened for traffic, and the other side, where the finishing works are progressing, is expected to be opened in a few days.

The Pooladikunnu flyover is 530 metres long and 13.75 metres wide, with 18 spans. There are seven flyovers along this stretch—at Ramanattukara, Azhinjilam, Pantheerankavu, Palazhi, and Thondayad, in addition to Pooladikunnu and Vengalam. The Vengalam flyover, located at one end of the reach, was opened for traffic a week ago. It measures 530 metres in length and 14.50 metres in width, with 17 spans and 85 concrete girders. Its opening was delayed by over a month after construction due to technical issues related to the installation of street lights.

While work on the flyovers, most of the overpasses, underpasses, and bridges is over, widening work along the stretch is nearing completion. The overpass at Malapparamba—where NH 66 intersects with NH 766—was completed in record time and opened to traffic. However, the trenching beneath the overpass to allow NH 66 to pass under it is still in progress.

The bridges across the Mampuzha and the Korapuzha at Purakkattiri have been opened for traffic, while work on another bridge across Korapuzha and across Chaliyar at Arappuzha is ongoing and expected to be completed by the end of May. There are also 16 light vehicle underpasses on the reach, most of which have already been opened for traffic.

The widening work of the 28.4-kilometre NH 66 stretch from Ramanattukara to Vengalam began in 2001 and is scheduled for completion by December 2025. However, the work undertaken by KMC Construction Company is expected to be completed well ahead of schedule.