Chennai News: Commuters travelling across the Cooum river in Nolambur are set to get relief soon, with construction of a new four-lane bridge nearing completion. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is expected to finish the remaining work by mid-February, officials said.

The 160-metre-long bridge is being built at a cost of Rs 44 crore, excluding land acquisition. According to local authorities, two deck slabs are yet to be installed, after which road-laying, approach works and street lighting will be taken up.

The Times Of India report cited Valasaravakkam zonal chairman V Rajan as stating that the remaining deck slabs are expected to arrive by the end of January. “Once that is done, black-topping and other finishing works will be completed within 15 days. We are hopeful that Chief Minister M K Stalin will inaugurate the bridge,” he said.

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Relief From Inundated Causeway

At present, residents of Nolambur, Mogappair and Maduravoyal depend on a low-level causeway located around 20 metres from the new bridge. Built in 1996, the causeway often gets flooded and is considered unsafe, especially for heavy vehicles.

Rajan recalled that before the causeway was built, people, including women and students, were forced to wade through water to cross the river. “The earlier road-level bridge was constructed to ensure safer movement. Now, it is being upgraded into a high-level bridge,” he said.

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Better Connectivity And Growth

The new bridge will directly connect Union Road, linking Maduravoyal and Mogappair, with Poonamallee High Road, a key state highway. Currently, commuters often detour nearly 5 km via Mogappair to cross the river. The new bridge is expected to cut travel time by 10–15 minutes.

Officials said improved access has already pushed up property values in Nolambur. The civic body has also acquired 4,396 square metres of private land to provide seamless entry to the bridge.

Last year, GCC inaugurated a two-lane bridge at Chinna Nolambur, opened by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.