Highways Department Conducts Pile Load Test for New Cauvery Bridge

A new bridge that is to come up across the Cauvery connecting Srirangam and Tiruchi, received a major shot in the arm as the Tamil Nadu Highways Department initiated the pile load test on Thursday, a critical precursor to its construction.

The piles are being subjected to an “ultimate load” test to establish their bearing capacity. Conducted by the Tiruchi Regional Lab of the Highways Research Station, the testing process will continue until February 8, with officials closely monitoring the results.

The new bridge, designed with 16 spans, will require the installation of approximately 120 piles. If the test results meet expectations, full-fledged construction is anticipated to begin next week. The department is eager to take advantage of the Mettur dam closure period, during which the water flow in the river has receded, providing a suitable window for construction.

The Mettur dam is traditionally closed between January 28 and June 12, allowing for reduced water levels in the Cauvery. This period is crucial for the Highways Department, as continuous water flow had previously hindered on-site progress. Despite this, preliminary work, including the acquisition of approximately 2,283 square meters of land, utility relocations, and the preparation of pre-stressed concrete girders, was carried out.

The new bridge, sanctioned at a cost of ₹106 crore, including land acquisition expenses, will span 545 meters in length and 17.75 meters in width. It will have four lanes and run parallel to the existing bridge across the Cauvery, easing traffic congestion in the region.

According to sources, the government has issued the 15(1) notification under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act for land acquisition, and compensation assessments are underway.

Senior officials, including Superintending Engineer P. Senthil, Divisional Engineer J. Kannan, Assistant Director of the Regional HRS Lab S. Shanmugasundara Bhoopathi, and other key engineers, were present at the site to oversee the pile load test.

With testing underway and construction poised to begin, the long-awaited bridge project is expected to significantly enhance connectivity and traffic flow between Srirangam and Tiruchi.