The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Kathivakkam road overbridge ready for inauguration

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Saturday, Jul 12, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Kathivakkam road overbridge ready for inauguration

Deepa H. Ramakrishnan

“It will be open for traffic in a fortnight”

— Photo: Deepa H.Ramakrishnan

All set: Sand bags have been placed at the entry points to Kathivakkam ROB to prevent motorists from using the facility until its inauguration.

CHENNAI: Work on the ROB (road overbridge) across the railway level crossing in Kathivakkam, in Tiruvottiyur Municipality, has been completed and the facility awaits inauguration.

Sand bags have been stacked at the entry points of the ROB, as a measure to prevent vehicles from using the facility until its opening. The ROB is 1,283 metres long and provides access from three sides - Ennore (585 mts), Ennore Express Highway (344 mts) and Tiruvottiyur (354 mts).

It is the longest ROB over a railway level crossing in Chennai. Work on the ROB, taken up as part of railway’s programme to eliminate the use of the railway level crossings in 2000–2001, commenced in 2005 and was completed in about 24 months .

According to State Highway department officials, the railways had a portion of work to be completed in the 50-span bridge and it was completed in April 2008. The work was given administrative sanction through a G.O of Highways Department in October 2000 and the funds were to be shared. The bridge will be able to be take vehicles carrying up to 50 tonnes. A total of 1,260 tonnes of steel bars and 5,700 tonnes of cement have been used in the construction of the bridge.

Residents living alongside the railway track and in between the Kathivakkam High Road and Ennore Express Highway have to take long trips through Ulaganathapuram. V. Shanmugam of Annai Sivagami Nagar said the bridge could help save a lot of time and fuel.

Department officials confirmed that work on the ROB had been completed some weeks ago. It would be opened for public traffic in a fortnight, they added.

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