TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao’s dream Assolna-Cavelossim bridge over river Sal is finally nearing completion.
While the bridge is expected to be completed by July end, it will be formally thrown open for traffic after the monsoons around October.
PWD Executive Engineer, V S Mardolkar, said the contractor has almost completed the bridge works well within the July end deadline. “I have inspected the bridge on Monday and work on the bridge structure is complete. The contractor is presently carrying the work of constructing railings,” he said.
Mardolkar, however, said that actual commissioning will take place only after the monsoons since it’s not possible to tar the approach roads during rains. “The railings also need to be painted. Approach roads on both the Assolna and Cavelossim sides need to be hot-mixed. This work cannot be undertaken during rains,” he said.
Replying to a question, Mardolkar said that work on the bridge has progressed as per the schedule.
Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva, who has been monitoring the work on the bridge to ensure that it is thrown open for vehicular traffic at the earliest, said the work was almost complete. He, however, said work on the approach road was presently underway and the bridge will be finally commissioned around October after completion of the approach road on the Cavelossim side.
