Tippers were parked on the state's longest cable-stayed bridge across the backwaters of the River Sharavathi in Sagar taluk in Shivamogga on Wednesday.
Credit: DH Photo
Shivamogga: The state’s longest cable-stayed bridge across the backwaters of the River Sharavathi, connecting Ambaragodlu and Tumari in Sagar taluk of the district, successfully passed the load test conducted on Wednesday.
Speaking to DH, Peer Pasha, in-charge officer of the bridge, said 18 tippers ferrying m-sand were stationed on the newly constructed bridge to test whether it can withstand the load.
“Initially, a 25-tonne load was placed on the bridge. Later, it was increased to 50 tonnes, then 75 tonnes, and finally 100 tonnes. The load test indicated a deflection of 22 mm, well within the permissible limit of 38 mm. We have successfully passed the load test, and the bridge can sustain the load for up to 100 years,” he said.
He also clarified that the tippers were parked, not driven, on the bridge during the test. The vehicles remained stationary in one portion of the bridge to accurately measure its load-bearing capacity. The contractor conducted the load test in the presence of officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and engineers, he said.
Pasha said that, as per the guidelines, the load test was conducted in two sections of the bridge: one on the extra-dosed cable-stayed portion comprising four spans, and the other on the remaining portion.
The purpose of the test was to evaluate the bridge’s response to a gradually increasing load over time.
On the inauguration timeline, Pasha said the date would be decided based on the monsoon situation in the region. More than 99% of the work has been completed, and the final painting will be finished in the coming days.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had laid the foundation stone for the 2.44-km-long bridge on February 19, 2018. The total cost of the project is Rs 423 crore.
Once operational, the bridge is expected to end the decades-old reliance on launches (large ferries), which have been a primary mode of transportation for people in the region.
The residents of Tumari and pilgrims heading to the Sigandur Chowdeshwari Temple will no longer have to use launches to reach their destinations. Previously, people had to travel nearly 80 km by road to reach Sagar town from Sigandur or Tumari.
The bridge will reduce that distance by nearly half. Additionally, the travel distance between Kollur in Udupi district and Sagar will be significantly reduced.