Work on the construction of a bridge at Lalgudi which faced several hurdles, is in full swing now, with both the State Highways and the Southern Railway simultaneously executing the work on their respective portions.
While the State Highways department has been digging the road for constructing the retaining wall, the Southern Railway has started work on girders on the railway portion.
According to Railway sources, the work, which was taken up on Thursday on the railway portion would be completed in 45 days. The centring and concrete structure would be set up in course of time. Five girders have been set up on the railway portion, each at a length of 27 metres. On the highway portion, 19 spans had been built so far each at a length of 16.60 metres. The diameter of the each span is 1.8 metre. “We execute the work only at night, when the area is free from traffic,” says sources. The percolation of groundwater has been a problem. “We pump out the groundwater for constructing the retaining wall,” says a contractor executing the work. The work is expected to be completed by February 2016. Sources said work on the retaining wall could be speeded up if the bus stand, located in the vicinity, was shifted temporarily. The arterial road had been posing a great hindrance and work on the retaining wall would hinder the passage of buses going to the bus stand.
Traders in Lalgudi are a relieved lot as the work is gathering pace. It remained suspended for about two years for various reasons.
The bridge across the railway line had become a necessity as a large number of trains pass through the town every day.
The closure of the railway gate has been causing a great hardship to the members of the public. Forty four trains pass through the town daily, in addition to goods trains.
