In pics | Rs 44 crore Nolambur Cooum bridge in Chennai set to open in February

After years of crossing the Cooum river via a stench-filled, frequently inundated low-level causeway, commuters in Nolambur are set to get relief as the new four-lane bridge nears completion. The project promises safer, faster and more dignified travel for residents of Nolambur, Mogappair and Maduravoyal.

The 160-metre-long bridge is being constructed by the Greater Chennai Corporation at a cost of ₹44 crore, excluding land acquisition. With most of the structural work completed, only two deck slabs, road surfacing and finishing touches remain before it is thrown open to traffic.

According to Valasaravakkam zonal chairman V Rajan, the remaining deck slabs are expected to arrive by the end of January. Blacktopping, approach roads and installation of street lights will follow, with civic authorities targeting completion by mid-February and hoping for a formal inauguration by Chief Minister M K Stalin.

Currently, commuters depend on a low-level causeway built in 1996, located barely 20 metres from the new bridge site. The causeway often gets submerged during rains and is considered unsafe, especially for heavy vehicles and cars, forcing motorists to take long detours.

Recalling the past, Rajan said women and students were once forced to wade through river water to cross, often carrying extra clothes to change after getting drenched. The original road-level bridge was built to restore dignity to commuters — a goal the new high-level bridge seeks to reinforce.

The bridge connects Union Road from Maduravoyal–Mogappair directly to Poonamallee High Road, a key state highway. Once operational, it will eliminate a 5-km detour via Mogappair and cut travel time by 10–15 minutes, offering seamless access to the arterial road.

Beyond easing traffic, the bridge has already transformed Nolambur’s real estate landscape. Property prices have risen from ₹6,000 to ₹10,000 per sq ft, with gated communities moving in. The civic body also acquired 4,396 sq metres of private land to ensure direct and smooth access to the highway. (Representative image)