Mangalore, Mar 20: The new parallel Netravathi Bridge will be opened for vehicles on Thursday, March 20. The construction is done by the Navayuga Udupi Tollway Pvt Ltd for the National Highway Authority of India.
This is going to be great news to those who frequently travel on the Netravathi Bridge located on the National Highway 66.
The bridge has been constructed as part of the NH widening project between Nanthur & Talapady and Surathkal & Kundapur under Phase III of National Highways Development Project. The new three-lane bridge which is 800 meter long and 12 meter wide will be open one-way for vehicles heading from Pumpwell to Thokkottu. The old bridge will be meant for traffic from the opposite direction.
It is learnt that, the new bridge will facilitate the two way traffic for few days since the old bridge is going to be closed for maintenance works prior to the rainy season.
The old bridge facilitated 12,500 passenger car units per day, but the new bridge is capable of facilitating 35000 passenger car units. This will lead to the free flow of traffic, said NHAI Officials. The bridge has 23 pillars and has pre-cast concrete girders, seismic locking is done for the 96 long beams and this will ensure safety in case of natural calamities such as tsunami, earthquakes etc.
