Engineers suggest measures for wobbling Varthur bridge

A team of engineers from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and the Public Works Department has prepared a report on the wobbling Varthur bridge. The report said that bearings in the span and girders of the bridge were not proper. It also suggested measures to repair the bridge.

The report submitted by S Somashekhara, chief engineer, BBMP, stated that the repair works can be carried out at night for 30 days, without disturbing traffic during the day.

A “non-destructive test” on the capacity of the bridge can be conducted after the completion of the work to decide on whether heavy vehicles can be allowed, the report said. The works include replacing all neoprane bearings, redoing of the wearing coat and relocation of the cables that run in the drain of the bridge.

“The first course of action is to carry out a non-destructive test, which gives the capacity of the bridge. This will reveal if there should be a further restriction on the movement of heavy vehicles. The work will be completed in 30 days,’’ the report stated.

Residents and citizens’ group, Whitefield Rising, had petitioned the Palike that the bridge has been wobbling severely. Mahadevapura MLA Aravind Limbavali along with engineers inspected the bridge, and it was decided to restrict the movement of heavy vehicles.