Two bridges to be opened to traffic

Two bridges in the Kayamkulam Assembly constituency will be opened for traffic on April 13.

Koottumvathukkal bridge and Park Junction bridge will be inaugurated by Public Works Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas at 12.30 p.m.

The 318-metre Koottumvathukkal bridge over Kayamkulam Kayal connecting Kandalloor and Devikulangara grama panchayats was constructed at a cost of ₹40 crore. The width of the bridge including footpaths is 11 metres. The bridge, constructed on the integral bridge model, has 19 spans.

The reconstructed Park Junction bridge, connecting Kayamkulam market and Kayamkulam town, is expected to bring an end to traffic woes in the town.

The project comes to fruition more than five decades after it was first proposed. Though efforts to construct the bridge were made by successive governments since 1967, the project was put on track during the previous Left Democratic government.

With the then Public Works Minister G. Sudhakaran driving the initiative, the foundation stone for the bridge was laid on November 10, 2019. Besides Kandalloor and Devikulangara, the bridge will benefit people living in Kayamkulam town, Oachira, Krishnapuram, and Arattupuzha grama panchayats.

The opening of the reconstructed Park Junction bridge connecting Kayamkulam market and Kayamkulam town is expected to bring an end to traffic woes in the town. The 20.6-metre-long bridge has a total width of nine metres, including a 7.5-metre carriageway. It was reconstructed at a cost of ₹4.7 crore.

U. Prathibha, MLA, will preside.