Viaduct bridge to be built near Parwanoo

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, September 17

The state’s first viaduct bridge will be constructed on the Parwanoo-Solan section of the national highway (NH)-05.

This bridge was initially not planned in this four-lane project and the road was supposed to be widened towards the hill side. However, since no land was available, the valley side was chosen to widen the highway.

“Given the deep valley existing at that site, constructing retaining walls or undertaking filling work was not viable. Hence, a proposal to construct a viaduct bridge was mooted before the NHAI by the company and it was approved given the precarious situation at the site,” said Balwinder Singh, project director, GR Infraprojects Limited, which was four-laning the highway.

The work to construct the 160-m long and 40-m wide bridge has already begun and project officials are hopeful of completing it within six months.

One pier of 40-m in the middle and two abutments, which is a substructure at the ends of a bridge span where the superstructure rests, will be erected to construct the bridge. When completed, it will add to the aesthetic value of the highway at the state’s gateway.

As against the initial cost of Rs 3 crore to four-lane this portion, Rs 19 crore would be incurred now on constructing the bridge. The project cost, which was initially pegged at Rs 748 crore, has escalated by several crores in the last five years.

The work is already running behind schedule. As against the assigned 30-month period, 60 months have already lapsed. The construction had begun in September 2015 and it was supposed to be completed by March 2018. Factors like lack of labour availability due to the Covid outbreak have delayed its completion this year.

About 92 per cent work has been completed now with major works like an overpass at Saproon and an overbridge being in an advanced stage. Project officials hope to complete the work by March next year.

The project also involves construction of two railway overbridges at Sanawar and Barog bypass and a flyover at Kumarhatti which will reduce the distance by three km. About 21-km long service roads is also being constructed at Dharampur and Solan while a toll barrier will be erected at Sanawar.

About the bridge

A viaduct is a bridge consisting of a number of shorter spans. It is built over expressways, highways, etc. where raising retention walls is not possible because of more depth. It minimises excavation activity. In the absence of this bridge, the company will be required to construct retaining walls measuring 40 to 60 feet high along the valley side up to the surface of the highway which is risky due to lack of stable base.

92 pc work completed

• About 92 per cent work on the Parwanoo-Solan section of the national highway (NH)-05 has been completed. Project officials hope to complete the work by March next year.
• The project also involves construction of two railway overbridges at Sanawar and Barog bypass and a flyover at Kumarhatti which will reduce the distance by three km.
• The work is already running behind schedule. The construction had begun in September 2015 and it was supposed to be completed by March 2018.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.