THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The new bridge under construction at Kundamankadavu across the Karamana river is all set to open for traffic from March. According to the Public Works Department officials, around 90 percent of the works have been completed and the rest would be finished by February last week.
“The construction work of the bridge has almost been completed. Tarring work will commence within two days. The total work is expected to be completed by February last,” PWD (Roads Division) executive engineer Chandrakumar S said.
The work on the new bridge, parallel to the 116-year-old British-made iron bridge, was started in 2012. The hues and cries of the commuters for a solution to the crawling traffic on the old bridge, which connects Kattakada with the city region, was the reason for the authorities to come up with a new bridge here.
Chandrakumar said that the work on the approach roads to the newly-built bridge was progressing. “The soil filling for the approach road from Peyad side is almost complete. The same at Valiyavila side is progressing. Shortage of soil is causing delay in this work,” he said. Anyhow that work will be completed soon, he added. “The tarring work on the approach road would be started soon after completion of this work,” he said.
The total estimate for the construction work is Rs 9.90 crore. “The total work, including tarring, is expected to be completed by February itself and will be ready for vehicular traffic from March,” he said.
The existing iron grid bridge, built in 1898 by the British, will be maintained with repair works soon. It is now filled with potholes and has become a threat to the commuters, especially two-wheeler riders.
“The surface repairing of the existing bridge will be started soon once the work on the new one is completed. A total budget of Rs 3.5 lakh has been allotted for that work,” Chandrakumar said.