Maharashtra: Motorists warned as part of bridge in Ratnagiri crumbles

NAVI MUMBAI: Motorists have been advised to drive cautiously on two conjoined British-era bridges over Vashishti river on Mumbai-Goa highway in Ratnagiri. The bridges were closed for vehicular movement for six days owing to floods, and traffic movement was allowed only from last Friday.
A 15-metre long portion of the conjoined bridges on the island located over the river was washed away at Chiplun in Ratnagiri.The PWD national highway division is conducting an underwater investigation of the bridge piers through a private agency. The two bridges were built in 1943 by the British. Each bridge is about 73.20-metre long and 7-metre wide. Two new bridges are under construction as part of the Mumbai-Goa highway widening work.
“For the first time, flood water level crossed the 9-metre height last week, washing away a portion of the conjoined bridges. This was restored within 48 hours by using boulders and concrete. The bridges were shut for traffic on July 21 in anticipation of heavy rain,” said R R Marathe, deputy engineer Ratnagiri section of PWD-national highway division.
“An underwater investigation of piers is being conducted through an independent consultant, but technicians are facing the challenge of heavy water current and turbid water of the Vashishti,” added Marathe.
“The damage was noticed on July 23 after water level receded. Light vehicle movement was restored first followed by heavy vehicles,” said Salim Shaikh, executive engineer Ratnagiri section of PWD-national highway division.