Mumbai, Sept. 2 -- The National Highways Authority of India is targeting the opening of one carriageway of the long delayed Kulur bridge in Mangaluru by the end of November as work on the six-lane structure over the Gurupura (Phalguni) river continues to lag. The bridge on National Highway 66 is located about seven kilometres north of Mangaluru city centre and is being built between two existing structures, a 1952-era bowstring arch used for southbound traffic and a reinforced concrete girder bridge carrying northbound movement.
NHAI officials indicated that girder launching has been pending, with a total of 60 girders already fabricated and stored at the Baikampady yard awaiting installation. They said the remaining work, including completion of pier caps atop the bridge piers, was expected to take several months and contractors have been instructed to accelerate the pace. Most of the required pier caps have been finished, with only a small number of locations still pending at the most recent review.
The new bridge has been designed with a total width of 41 metres, comprising a 28-metre-wide main carriageway accommodating six lanes, with a separate service road alongside. Once the main carriageway becomes operational, vehicular movement on the existing 1952 arch bridge will be restricted and the older structure is to be permanently closed to traffic. A new service road and footpath are planned beside the old bridge, but construction of the service road has been deferred until pipelines running along the older structure are relocated.
The Kulur project has faced repeated delays over the years, prompting local political representatives, including Dakshina Kannada member of parliament Capt Brijesh Chowta, to press NHAI for expedited completion. Officials have told authorities and the contractor that remaining works must be finished before the onset of the monsoon season because heavy rainfall typically disrupts coastal construction activity. The Kulur stretch forms part of wider upgrades along NH 66 in and around Mangaluru, where several bridge and flyover projects at Pumpwell, Thokkottu and Gurupura have experienced extended delays due to funding constraints, contractor issues and land related hurdles.
With NHAI targeting a partial opening by the end of November, commuters on the Mangaluru-Udupi route are likely to see some relief on the long pending crossing, even as full completion of the bridge, including the service road and pedestrian pathways, remains contingent on further progress in the months ahead. Authorities will monitor progress and adjust timelines as necessary.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.