With the work of launching pre-stressed concrete (PSC) girders over Madurai-Tirunelveli broad-gauge line under-way, the construction of road overbridge (ROB) in lieu of a manned level crossing at Ramamoorthy Road has gained pace.
Railway Construction has taken up the work on the railway portion of the ROB. The work to launch (placing) six PSC girders across the railway line over columns constructed on either sides began on Saturday.
While two girders, weighing 65 tonnes each, were launched on Saturday, the work for placing three others were taken up on Sunday. Each of the 25-metre-long girders were placed using three heavy-load cranes.
The work taken up under the supervision of Executive Engineer (Railway Construction), M. Ganesh, was challenging given the space constraint at the working spot. The PSC girders that were laid on narrow the service road had to be moved across the railway track after pulling down a portion of railway the compound wall.
Besides, the officials had to take power block for the railway overhead electric cable on the railway electrified line and also power shutdown by Tamil Nadu Electricity Board as several electricity service lines were passing over the work spot.
After the girders are launched a concrete deck slab would laid over them for laying the road. All this work, including construction of parapet wall, would go as per the schedule and would be completed by March 2018.
The cost of the railway portion of the work is ₹2 crore.
The Divisional Engineer of NABARD and Rural Roads wing of State Highways, C. Subramanian, is hopeful of completing the ₹22.72 crore project in March 2018 as per the schedule.
“Seven out of the 22 deck slabs have been laid. Similarly, 15 out of the 20 capping beams have been constructed. Other work on the Virudhunagar town side could be expedited after shifting electric poles and service connections. With high demand for sand, m-sand is being used for the construction of the bridge,” he added.
