The overbridge on one of the two carriageways of the Tiruchi-Chennai Bypass near the Ponmalai Railway Station was closed for traffic on Thursday after damages were noticed along its approach road, causing huge traffic snarls on the highway amidst the Pongal festival rush.
A large bulge was noticed on the “RE blocks of the approach portion” of the overbridge, indicating a possible cave in. Although the bulge was close to a pillar, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) sources said there was no damage to the pillar. The damage to the approach was noticed on Thursday after which officials of the NHAI took swift action to divert traffic to the other carriageway. To avert further damage to the structure, NHAI officials, in consultation with the city traffic police, closed the approach to the overbridge and broke open the concrete median near the G Corner Junction to allow vehicles onto the other carriageway.
