MAPUSA
With the final two concrete segments to be set in place on the new Zuari bridge by August end, one of the four-lane sections of the eight-lane cable-stayed bridge is expected to be thrown open for traffic as early as November.
Work on the much-delayed bridge project got further impetus after the arrival of two Chinese officials two days ago, who have visited the site and took stock of the ongoing work on the bridge.
Project Manager of Dilip Buildcon Ltd, Deogonda Patil informed that if everything goes as per plan and weather permitting, one lane of the new bridge across River Zuari could be opened for traffic within next two months.
He said one of the last deck layers will be lifted and put in place on Thursday while the other is expected to be set up on August 30.
“In around two months, after the laying of the final deck on August 30, the bridge can be thrown open for traffic. However, everything depends on the weather condition. The monsoon in Goa is very unpredictable,” Patil told The Goan.
He further informed that after completion of the deck laying, other works such as crash barrier fixing, railings, load test, wind tunnel test etc will take another two months.
The project manager said that the second four-lane bridge will be completed by March 2023.
Work on the Rs 1,400 crore eight-lane bridge project across River Zuari began in 2016 and was expected to be completed within three years. It encountered several challenges including the onset of Covid pandemic which affected the supply of various resources including man power.
“Our counterparts from China could not get visas to come here during those two years of Covid,” Patil informed.
On several occasions, the State government promised to open one-lane section of the new bridge but missed one deadline after the other.
During the monsoon session of Goa Legislative Assembly in July, PWD Minister, Nilesh Cabral said that the right-hand side lane of the bridge was likely to be opened for traffic in December this year.
