Construction of a new bridge across the Cauvery, connecting Srirangam and Tiruchi, has slowed down because of the flow of water for irrigation in the delta region.

The Highways Department, which had commenced work on the bridge in July 2024, could not achieve much progress at the site because of continuous flow of water in the river in the following months but had taken up several off-site works, including getting the pre-cast girders ready for the super structure of the bridge.

The work gathered pace only during the Mettur closure period (between January 28 and June 12, the customary dates for the closure and opening of the Mettur dam, respectively).

Although the State Highways Department was keen to complete the foundation work before the irrigation season, it could not achieve the objective. Once the pile foundations were raised, work on the superstructure can continue even when there is water flow in the river, the authorities had hoped.

But following the opening of Mettur dam, the water flow (now stepped up to 18,000 cusecs) in the river has been substantial and the korambu (a sand bund) built to channel the water away from the work site on the riverbed was washed away, disrupting the pile foundation laying work. A total of 120 piles will have to be erected for the new bridge which would have 16 spans. The work has not been completed yet.

However, sources were at pains to emphasise that the work had not been suspended entirely. “Some of the works on the riverbed closer to the left bank and off site works will continue. The other works would resume when the water flow comes down,” the sources said.

The bridge was sanctioned at an estimate of ₹106 crore in the State Budget for 2024-25 and is being built adjacent to the existing bridge. The existing bridge would be retained to cater to traffic coming from Mambazha Salai while the new one would be for vehicles going in the opposite direction.