Chennai: The state highways department has started work on a high-level bridge across the Cooum River, connecting Padi Kuppam with Poonamallee High Road at Koyambedu to provide seamless access for commuters. The project replaces a decades-old causeway that was often submerged during the monsoon, with culverts frequently clogged by water hyacinth.Planned to connect Poonamallee High Road with Mogappair, Padi Kuppam and Golden George Nagar, the four-lane bridge project is slated for completion by July this year. The 91-m bridge will have a 7.5-m carriageway and 1.5-m footpaths on both sides. The current causeway, in contrast, measures 63m in length and 5.5m in width.
While Padi Kuppam Road and Rail Nagar Road come under the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), the highways department also built a 12-m approach road to facilitate commuting while the new bridge is constructed.The two-lane causeway at Padi Kuppam suffered extensive damage during the 2015 floods and was later restored. This will be the fourth major high-level river bridge on the road, with an existing one built in Mogappair a decade ago, while two in Nolambur were built in the last two years.“All the high-level bridges and river bridges on the western side of the Cooum River in Koyambedu, Padi Kuppam, Mogappair, Nolambur and Maduravoyal were built by different DMK govts. Decades ago, people used to cross the river on foot, often getting their clothes wet. The causeway in Padi Kuppam was built in 1996, and now, in 2026, we are upgrading it into a high-level bridge,” said DMK Nolambur zonal chairman V Rajan.“The river bridge often is inundated when the Cooum River swells. This pushes people into a 5-km detour to Koyambedu via Thirumangalam. It will help everyone who wants to go to Koyambedu, Poonamallee High Road and 100-Feet road,” he said. Commuters urged GCC to also beautify the approach lanes.“The approach lane from Mogappair and Nolambur to this river bridge is low-lit and filled with encroachments like abandoned cars. The river banks too are misused by anti-social elements. GCC should maintain the pavements, set up new street lights and plant more trees on the banks,” said R Ramesh of Mogappair East.
