New Bridge Proposed Over Cauvery in Tiruchi-Construction to Start on Full Swing

Intensive work on the new bridge over the Cauvery River connecting Srirangam and Tiruchi will commence in a few days, after the end of the delta irrigation season, which is likely by the end of this month. Although work on the new bridge by the State Highways Department began last July 2024, the progress remained at a halt owing to the continuous water flow into the river during the months after that.

With the Mettur Dam closure from January 28 to June 12 expected to provide a temporary lull in river water flow, the department is now hoping for an intensification of work on the construction. The last few months saw off-site works like land acquisition, utility relocation, and the preparation of prestressed concrete girders for the new bridge. However, the clearance of 23,61 meters of land to be used by the project has been put through, and the 15 (1) notification under the Tamil Nadu Highway Act is still waiting for a nod from the government.

The river water is being gradually located now, and a temporary sand bund has been established around a test pile foundation for conducting initial pile load tests. The project will require approximately 120 piles for the bridge, which will extend over 16 spans. Pile construction is slated to pick up full speed by the end of January 2025, with hopes for a good part of the project to be completed by December 2025.

The new bridge will be built at an estimated cost of ₹106 crore as per the 2024-25 State Budget and will be located next to the existing bridge, which has developed structural problems over the years. The present bridge, built in 1976, is the lifeline for heavy traffic plying between Tiruchi and Srirangam. Major repairs to the bridge were undertaken in 2018 and from 2022 to 2023, which were soon to give place to requests for a new bridge considering the emergencies arising. After the completion, traffic will be smooth, as the old bridge will be kept open for vehicles coming in from Mambazha Salai, and the new bridge will be opened for those coming from the other side.