Kochi has approved Rs 52.65 lakh to resurface the Irumpanam railway overbridge and Chithrapuzha bridge on the Seaport-Airport Road, where deep potholes have been contributing to traffic congestion and repeated maintenance problems. Minister Anoop Jacob announced the administrative sanction on Thursday.
The sanctioned work will involve removing damaged surface layers and laying new bituminous macadam and bituminous concrete on both bridges. The repairs are intended to restore the road surface along the busy corridor, which carries regular traffic between the city and the airport-side industrial and transport areas.
A separate Rs 10 lakh pothole repair project has also completed the tendering process. Patchwork under that project is scheduled to begin shortly, offering an interim response before the larger resurfacing work is carried out.
The condition of the bridges has been linked not only to surface wear but also to their structural configuration and traffic loads. According to a report by the chief engineer of the bridges division, the central span over the railway line is flat, while the connecting spans are inclined.
Heavy vehicles frequently brake while descending the inclined sections. This places mechanical stress and vibration on the road surface, accelerating the breakdown of the asphalt. The deterioration affects the bridge deck and the central bituminous layer, creating conditions in which potholes can recur even after patch repairs.
The approaches to the bridges face a separate water-related problem during the rainy season. The report said water pressure pushes loose soil from beneath the approach road outwards, weakening the road edge and contributing to the formation of fresh potholes. The resulting damage has required frequent maintenance along the corridor.
The twin interventions therefore combine immediate patching with a broader resurfacing effort. While the Rs 10 lakh work is expected to address visible potholes in the short term, the Rs 52.65 lakh project is aimed at renewing the damaged road layers across the two bridge locations.
The announcement highlights the maintenance burden faced by bridge approaches and elevated road sections that experience a combination of heavy vehicle braking, vibration, drainage-related soil movement and monsoon exposure. For commuters, the immediate concern is the effect of damaged surfaces on traffic movement along the Seaport-Airport Road.
The next steps are the start of pothole patchwork under the completed tender and the execution of the sanctioned resurfacing work on the Irumpanam railway overbridge and Chithrapuzha bridge.
