Bailey bridge to be open by April

KOLLAM: Construction of Bailey bridge across Enath River in Adoor by the Indian Army is progressing well. The bridge having a carrying capacity of 18 tonnes is expected to be open to vehicular traffic by the second week of April. The bridge is constructed adjacent to the existing bridge closed for maintenance works. The Bailey bridge built by the regiment unit in Secunderabad with 3.20 meters width will remain even after the opening of the old bridge after reinforcement works.

Meanwhile, the comparatively narrow bridge constructed by the Army could accommodate only single-way traffic, raising concerns over a traffic jam on the narrow approach road to the bridge connecting it with the MC Road. The width of the abutments on either side of the new bridge has, in turn, affected the width of the bridge, making it narrower. Heavy vehicles including goods lorries and containers could not enter the bridge which is designed only for light vehicles including cars and small-sized trucks.

Heavy vehicles including passenger buses should continue to take a detour from the MC Road to reach Kottarakkara until the old bridge is open. The materials for constructing the bridge have been brought to the site in 17 trucks. The KSTP has completed the construction of abutments on either side and handed over to the Army for the building the bridge over it. The vehicular traffic on the bridge along the MC Road near Adoor was banned for an indefinite period after an expert team found serious damages in one of its pillars on January 10. The bridge connects the districts of Kollam and Pathanamthitta.