Construction of Chennai’s first cable-stayed bridge is set to begin soon as part of the Chennai Port–Maduravoyal elevated corridor project. The bridge will be located near Napier Bridge, where the corridor crosses onto Swami Sivananda Salai. A single pier will support the structure at this location, and the ramp will extend via Island Grounds. Piling work at the site is expected to begin shortly.

Two additional cable-stayed bridges will also be constructed along the 20-km-long double-decker corridor—one at Koyambedu and another at Maduravoyal. Each of the three bridges will be 300 metres long with 75-metre spans. The combined cost of the three bridges is estimated at Rs 1.80 billion.

At Koyambedu, the corridor will pass above the Chennai Metro Rail line, while at Maduravoyal, it will be built over the existing grade separator. The entire elevated corridor is scheduled for completion by February 2027, with approximately 30 per cent of the piling work already completed. In total, 4,842 piles are planned for the project, which is being implemented under the Bharatmala Pariyojana scheme.

The project, awarded through the engineering procurement construction (EPC) mode, was formalized with a contract agreement on September 11, 2023, followed by a work order issued on November 23, 2023. Divided into four packages, the project includes the casting of 9,425 superstructure components at two dedicated yards. One tier of the corridor will have six exits and seven entry points, while the other will serve as a direct link between Chennai Port and Maduravoyal.

News source: The Hindu