A flurry of infrastructure works at Edappally.

A flurry of construction activities have commenced at the Edappally Junction where NH 47 and NH 47 Bypass meet NH 17.

Close on the heels of the two-lane bridge on the northern side being opened to traffic recently, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has begun work on a bridge on the junction’s southern side. 'The bridge will be opened to traffic by March, following which vehicles using the existing bridge will be diverted through the new bridge for smooth progress of flyover and metro viaduct works by DMRC,' sources associated with the projects said.

Work on the flyover began a couple of days ago and three hydraulic rigs have been deployed for piling on the northern side. Piling will begin on southern side once the second bridge is ready.

'We hope to complete pile capping by May end, while the flyover is expected to be commissioned along with Kochi Metro by June 2016,' the sources said. The metro viaduct would tower over the bridge just as in Ernakulam North.

Simultaneously, work has begun on western side of the junction to construct drains and service roads to divert vehicles during flyover construction. Girders for the flyover and metro viaduct that are less than 25-metres long will be pre-cast at L&T's yard and transported to the site. But 35m-long central girders will be cast within the barricaded portion.

A good share of land for the flyover has been handed over to DMRC, except for two plots. Timely handing over of full extent of land is crucial for relocating pipelines and cables before piling.

THE HINDU