CHENNAI: The Tiruvottiyur-Manali railway overbridge will be open for motorists to use from the first week of August according to officials from the State Highways Department.
The 550m bridge, that runs over the railway track near Tiruvottiyur railway station will connect Tiruvottiyur-Ponneri-Panchetti (TPP) Road and Basin Road. The overbridge will help motorists bypass a 4-5km journey through railway crossings to get from one side to another.
“To reach Manali, we have to drive around 5km to reach the other side through a railway gate (north of the Tiruvottiyur railway station). Once this bridge comes, it will be easy to reach Manali and Madhavaram,” said Murugesa Nandan, a resident of Tiruvottiyur who works at an industry in Manali.
The project, which was planned in October 2013, was delayed due to complications in land acquisition according to a senior official from the State Highways Department. “While on one hand, the acquisition was a problem, we also had to ensure that sewer lines and other pipes were re-positioned by the concerned authorities,” the official said.
The two-lane bridge is 13.2m wide, of which the carriage way is 55m on either side according to the official. The remaining space is used by a centre median and crash barrier.
A 43m stretch in the centre of the bridge comes under the responsibility of the railways department, according to the official.
“The bridge is on the last leg of construction. Only painting and minor correction work are pending. It will be ready by the end of July,” the official said.
According to the official, the total estimated cost of the project is Rs 47 crore, including land acquisition charges.