From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH, Dec 13: Following the abrupt start of repair work on the Umiam bridge on Wednesday, drivers on NH-6 from Shillong to Guwahati and vice versa were taken by surprise. Hundreds of vehicles faced long-term delays with work being done on one side of the deteriorating bridge.
Shortly after the repair work started, Ri-Bhoi Police redirected vehicles. In order to get to Shillong, cars travelling that way were told to take the Umroi Bypass and travel the Umroi Airport-Umrynjah-VIP Road.
Many commuters were caught off guard when their vehicles were unexpectedly diverted.
Authorities underlined the importance of the repairs for long-term safety and the stability of the infrastructure, urging drivers to respect the temporary changes and stay on the approved routes.
ITC Cementation India Ltd. is undertaking the repair work. The company’s construction manager, Hanuman Kalamb, clarified that the regular passage of overloaded vehicles is the main cause behind the severe deterioration of the bridge’s concrete foundations over time. He said that major repair work is needed because the bridge has outlived its intended lifespan.
In order to repair the damage, Kalamb described the extent of the repair work, which includes drilling deeply into the foundation and injecting concrete.
The estimated time frame for finishing the repairs is more than four months. The bridge is anticipated to last an additional 25 years after repairs, according to Kalamb. However, he cautioned that unrestricted vehicle traffic could compromise the effectiveness of the restoration work and possibly cause more damage.
