Highways Department to rehabilitate 2 bridges in Kancheepuram district

IIT-M experts inspect bridges in Kancheepuram district for rehabilitation, focusing on safety and structural improvements for heavy vehicle traffic.

Two important bridges on State Highways (SH) in Kancheepuram district — at Sevilimedu and Oragadam — will be rehabilitated soon. Both bridges witness a high volume of heavy vehicles owing to their proximity to industrial corridors.

A team of experts from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) recently inspected both bridges to assess their condition. The team will soon submit a report based on which rehabilitation will be taken up.

S. Rooban, a motorist who uses the Oragadam bridge regularly, said barricades had been set up before the ramps, and vehicles had been asked to slow down on the bridge. “There are also some cracks on the sides,” he added.

The dual three-lane Oragadam bridge on Vandalur-Wallajabad Road (SH 48) was completed in 2014. “When the work begins, we will divert traffic to the service lanes and also allow traffic on some of the lanes since a full diversion will not be possible,” said an official in the Highways Department.

A retired engineer said that during the rehabilitation of bridges, the expansion joints between the spans, which allow bridges to expand due to temperature variations, and bearings that transfer the load to the substructure from the deck slabs needed to be changed to ensure the health of the structure.

“This will extend the life of the structure and ensure the safety of the users. Along with these, the wearing coat on the carriageway needs to be replaced to provide a smooth riding surface. If there are any cracks on the structure, those will have to be filled using grouting,” he said.

The bridge at Sevilimedu on Kancheepuram-Vandavasi Road (SH 116) across the Palar was constructed during 2002-03. The bridge, with 59 spans, also needs repairs similar to the one in Oragadam. “We will take up work when the traffic movement is less. The Highways Department is also planning to build another bridge adjacent to the present structure,” an official said.