This story is from August 8, 2016

PWD moots 3rd Borim bridge to keep NH, Goa linked

Public works department (PWD) officials tried to dispel apprehensions among the public about the stability of Borim bridge, but the government is already working on a third link spanning 7-km between Dhavali, Ponda and Angdi, Loutolim.
PWD moots 3rd Borim bridge to keep NH, Goa linked
(Representative image)
Ponda/Panaji: Public works department (PWD) officials tried to dispel apprehensions among the public about the stability of Borim bridge, but the government is already working on a third link spanning 7-km between Dhavali, Ponda and Angdi, Loutolim.
The proposal to provide an alternative to the existing 30-year-old beleaguered bridge is in the preliminary stage.

“The route is likely to be finalized later, but the points on either side have been decided,” assistant engineer, PWD, Shashikant Desai said.
PWD is now working on a proposal to allot of preparing a feasibility report at a cost of 1 crore to a consultancy firm and the tender is likely to be issued shortly.
The entire project on National Highway 17B is estimated to cost 500 crore, but while the consultancy firm will be given six months for the report, the actual land acquisition and other procedures may take a few years.
The second bridge had been commissioned in 1986, but developed problems within a few years and is being periodically closed for traffic to test load capacity and carry out maintenance. The bridge serves as the only link between southern and northern parts of Goa for heavy vehicular traffic moving through Goa on National Highway 17.

While it also connects Ponda and Salcete talukas, it is extremely important for truck traffic after it was diverted here due to the weak condition of Zuari bridge about a decade ago.
The first bridge, built during the Portuguese era, was closed for traffic in the 1980s after it was destabilized following the collision of a barge on one of its piers.
“The bridge is being rehabilitated through external pre-stressing since July 2015 to avoid deflections,” PWD Vijay Mardolkar, executive engineer said.
The work being done by Freyssinet India Limited, Mumbai, is likely to be completed by December 2016 at a cost of Rs 9.91 crore.
The steel used for the bridges suffers from the heavy impact of corrosion due to high salinity of Goan rivers and lose its tensile strength.
After carrying out a study through a consultancy firm, the cables have been tightened to strengthen the bridge.
The operational load capacity of the bridge was decided in mid-70s, as per the status of transport movement and vehicular population during that period, he explained.
A Borim resident, Yeshwant Sukhtankar, said that vibrations can be felt when on reaches the middle stretch of the bridge, but PWD assistant engineer, Shashikant Desai said that the vibrations are natural and there is no need to raise apprehensions.
As the pre-stressed cable rehabilitation has been done externally, the nuts fitted with bolts are visible above the bridge surface along sides of the structure and citizens are worried they may prove dangerous if moving vehicles skid on the road.
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