SR restores traffic on 165-yr old British era bridge

Southern Railway (SR) restored normal rail traffic on 165-year old bridge number 299 between Tiruvalam and Mukundaraypuram stations on the Arakkonam-Katpadi section at 9 pm on Sunday night. To ensure safe train operations, speed restrictions have been imposed in the section.

SR’s bridge maintenance crew had on Thursday, December 23, 2021 reported a crack in a pillar of the British era bridge number 299 near Tiruvalam.

Following this, rail traffic was suspended immediately between Arakkonam and Katpadi section for four days from December 23 to 26 on account of safety.The damage to the bridge had occurred due to the recent heavy spells of rain and floods.

The structural damage has been completely rectified and a trial run conducted with a goods train on the bridge before it was certified fit for traffic on Sunday night.

Restoration Process

A team of technical experts went to the spot along with Divisional Railway Manager/Chennai Ganesh and officials of Engineering department.

Major works carried out are as follows:-

• The flow of water was diverted to the adjacent spans by building a coffer dam.

• Crib staging work was done from the river bed level to the arch portion.

• Pressure grouting was done into the cracks to avoid further extension.

• Boulder pitching was done around the pier to prevent further scouring.

• Concrete work was done with special grouting along the affected pier.

• Sinkage on settlement of the track was attended with tamping machine.

• A total of 850 people worked round the clock for restoration of the bridge. Along with this, one number of 140 and 220 tonnes cranes were deployed in the site.

• In addition, two 25 MT cranes with trailer were deployed for shifting of materials from highway approach to railway embankment.

• The damaged structure was supported with 14 tons of rolled steel section, one ton of reinforcement bar and 14 cubic meters of wooden columns and planks.

Work was done round the clock. The pillars and piers have been strengthened and the track was certified fit at  8 pm on Sunday, December 26,2021 by conducting a trial run with a loco engine and a goods train.