Vallanadu Bridge

The National Highways Authority of India has invited bids for lasting repair work on the Vallanadu Bridge, pegging the job's cost at Rs. 35.6 mn.

The bridge sits on NH 138, linking Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli, and spans the Thamirabarani river near Vallanadu.

Officials say the fix will target the wearing course, which is the top road layer that takes the brunt of vehicle traffic and weather exposure, and the job is slated to wrap up in 90 days.

Out of the structure's full set of 15 spans, a majority—more than seven—currently show deck-level cracking or sinking, though NHAI insists these are only surface flaws and the bridge's core structure remains sound.

Built in 2013, the bridge has struggled with repeated cracking and potholing almost from the start, leading to several rounds of patchwork and larger repair efforts over the years.

A bigger rehabilitation push happened in July 2024, carried out on guidance from technical teams at IIT and CRRI, but the damage has resurfaced since then.

The issue came up again after activist Sugan Christober filed a petition, to which NHAI Project Director Krishnendra Dwivedi responded that small dips and cracks had turned up on the deck slab, and that the existing contractor had already done quick fixes to keep traffic moving safely while the permanent tender was being finalized.

That the damage keeps coming back even after a major 2024 rehabilitation points to deeper questions about how well earlier repair work has held up, and whether temporary fixes are enough for a bridge carrying regular traffic on a key national highway route.

Keeping NH 138 open and in good condition matters for traffic flow between Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli, both significant towns along this corridor.

The tendered repair work will proceed under NHAI and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways norms, with interim upkeep continuing on the bridge until the permanent repairs are finished.

NHAI has not indicated a start date for construction beyond noting the 90-day timeline expected once work begins.