Highways department takes up pile load test ahead of construction of new Cauvery bridge

Construction of a new bridge across the Cauvery, connecting Srirangam and Tiruchi, is set to gain momentum over the next few days as the State Highways department began conducting an initial pile load test on Thursday

Construction of a new bridge across the Cauvery, connecting Srirangam and Tiruchi, is set to gain momentum over the next few days as the State Highways department began conducting an initial pile load test on Thursday.

The test would assess the bearing capacity of the pile for the “ultimate load.” According to sources in the department, the tests conducted by Tiruchi Regional Lab of Highways Research Station would go on till February 8. The loading process began on Thursday and a team of officials were observing the results.

About 120 piles would have to be erected for the new bridge, which would have 16 spans.

If the pile load test results were found to be satisfactory, the bridge construction was expected to get under way in full swing next week as the Highways department was keen on utilising the Mettur dam closure period. The water flow had receded, paving the way for taking up construction at the site, the official sources added.

The dam closure period (between January 28 and June 12, the customary dates for the closure and opening of the Mettur dam, respectively) would provide a much-needed window for the Highways department to take up work in full swing.

The Highways department, which had commenced work on the new bridge in July last year, could not execute much work on the site because of the near continuous flow of water in the river in the following months.

However, the department had utilised the period to take up several off-site work, including the process of acquiring about 2,283 sq. m. of land, shifting of utilities and getting ready pre-stressed concrete girders to be used for the new bridge.