Kodambakkam bridge work dams up traffic.

With work on Kodambakkam bridge delayed beyond acceptable time frames, traffic congestion in neighbourhoods around the structure is a source of bother for residents and motorists.

Traffic police introduced diversions to traffic on some stretches two months ago for concrete road-laying work on the 50-year-old bridge. The Chennai Corporation has failed to complete the work on time, with more than 50 percent yet to be completed. A proposal to use better technology to complete the work in 12 days also failed to take off.

Motorists crossing the stretches complain that they are unable to reach their destination on time because of the traffic congestion.

'Traffic congestion has increased after the work started. It is bothering motorists. It is also affecting business,' said a shopkeeper at Liberty junction.

With an increase in complaints from residents of neighbouring localities, too, the civic body is scrambling to find a solution.

Last month, the civic body started the preparation of revised estimates for the work. Advanced cold-milling technique was proposed instead of manual drilling, and the M60 grade of concrete was planned to be used instead of the M30 permitted under the old estimate made for the work.

'The Kodambakkam bridge is old. Vibrations to the structure during the implementation of the project are likely to damage it. So we had to drop the proposal to use new technology,' said an official.

The proposed system would have involved just two days of milling work, two days of concreting and two days of curing, with the work being completed in 12 days.

'With the existing pace, the work for the road laying part will take another three months,' said another official.



THE HINDU