Two viaducts to be opened on Solan-Dharampur highway

Two viaducts measuring 170 m each constructed near Patta Mor and another in Solan city on the Solan-Dharampur highway will be opened for vehicular traffic soon.

Both bridges have been constructed using concrete girders unlike the first such bridge that was a steel structure constructed near Parwanoo in February 2023.

One bridge has been constructed near the underpass in Solan city where two concrete spans of 35 m each have been laid. The stretch is a vulnerable site prone to frequent erosion. Earlier efforts to stabilise it failed following which this bridge was designed.

The other one has been constructed near Kumarhatti where three spans of 33.33 m each have been laid. Continuous erosion of hills above the highway and the presence of a railway line on the valley side left little scope of stabilising the road, following which the construction of this bridge was planned.

“The bridges will be opened for traffic after a bitumen layer was laid over their surface. A trial has already been held and the completion of the metalling work will pave the way for opening the bridges for vehicular traffic,” said Anand Dahiya, Project Director, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is executing the work to widen the Solan-Dharampur road.

Recurring hill erosion at the two sites had necessitated setting up of these bridges, which were earlier not included in the work on the Parwanoo-Solan section of the highway. Uttar Pradesh-based Shiva Associates has constructed the bridges at a cost of Rs 25 crore.

The state’s first viaduct standing on one pier was set up near Parwanoo in February 2023. Around 1,000 tonnes of steel was used in its construction as RCC girders could not be erected due to the steep gradient on the valley side. The use of steel has enhanced its life.

Given the valley’s depth at the site, the construction of retaining walls or undertaking filling work was not viable. Hence, the executing company mooted a proposal to construct a viaduct, which the NHAI approved.

What is a viaduct

A viaduct is a long bridge or a series of bridges that connect two points at roughly the same elevation, usually crossing a valley, river or other low-lying area

Viaducts are supported by arches, piers or columns and are often made of stone or concrete.