MAPUSA
Work has commenced to clear the damaged segment that collapsed between the pillars of the elevated corridor under construction at Sangolda junction on Sunday.
Despite the incident, traffic along the service roads continues to flow smoothly, with the Public Works Department (PWD) assuring motorists that there are no plans to restrict movement in the affected area for now.
“There is no need to close the road for traffic as there is ample space on either side of the flyover – approximately 7.5 metres on each side. The segment fell right in the space where the construction work is ongoing. It has not affected traffic flow,” a senior PWD official told The Goan.
The segment collapse occurred during hoisting operations and is being attributed to a mechanical failure rather than any structural flaw in the bridge design.
A senior PWD engineer clarified that the incident was caused by a malfunction in the girder mechanism used to lift the segment.
“It’s nothing to do with the bridge structure or its design integrity. The girder equipment used to hoist the segment failed mechanically. The suppliers and technical experts of the machinery are currently on-site and investigating the cause of the malfunction,” the engineer stated.
Although traffic remains unaffected at the moment, the PWD has indicated that a temporary traffic closure will be necessary in the near future.
“The service road does narrow a little further up, and it has already been decided to shut down the entire stretch from the new bypass to the O’Coqueiro circle by the end of June or mid-July to facilitate the next phase of construction,” the official added.
Before the Sunday mishap, the elevated corridor project had been progressing on schedule.
Segment launching of ten spans on the Porvorim side has already been completed, while work on the fourth segment is currently underway on the Sangolda side.
Officials from the PWD reiterated their commitment to maintaining public safety and completing the project without major delays.
“Safety remains our top priority. All necessary precautions are being taken, and we are working closely with equipment specialists to prevent any recurrence,” said the PWD official.
The elevated corridor is part of the State’s key infrastructure initiative aimed at decongesting traffic in Porvorim.
