The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) rolled out a 180-metre-long orthotropic steel deck (OSD) on the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL).

It is the longest OSD launched on the MTHL – a 22 km-long sea link that will link South Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, providing a navigation space of 180 m to ships traversing under the bridge without obstacles.

The OSD, a steel deck superstructure being utilised for the first time in the nation, will hold the vehicular load more efficiently and enhance the load-carrying capacity of the bridge, as against a concrete superstructure.

So far, five steel girders or OSDs have been rolled out on the MTHL. On January 3, MMRDA launched the first OSD on the MTHL which was 70 metre long.There will be a total of 70 OSDs on MTHL.

The 2500 mt OSD was launched on Thursday on package 1 of the MTHL on the Mumbai side lane. It is the longest steel span and is a milestone in the development of the MTHL, MMRDA Commissioner SVR Srinivas told the media.

These steel decks are being utilised to guarantee that ships traversing the channel adjoining MTHL have navigation space to pass under the bridge.The choice of conventional concrete decks would have implied building closer foundations for the piers.

Officials told the media that the steel spans are developed in workshops situated in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and Myanmar.

MTHL, a 21.8 km long six-lane sea link, will link the Mumbai Bay from Sewri to Chirle in Navi Mumbai (Navi Mumbai airport) and is likely to be done by 2023. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 18,000 crore and nearly 60% of the work has been done.

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