The 160-metre long skywalk will enable visitors to move safely between Phases 1 and 2 of the ecopark
| Photo Credit: S. Harini
The cable-stayed pedestrian bridge over Greenways Road linking the two sections of Tholkappia Poonga in Adayar is set to open in June, according to the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) Bridges Department.
Construction of the structure, commissioned by the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT), began in July 2024 with an estimated budget of ₹7.16 crore.
The 160-metre long skywalk will enable visitors to move safely between Phases 1 and 2 of the ecopark.
“Once open, the skywalk will offer an uninterrupted route and an elevated view between the park’s two sections, improving safety for morning joggers, birdwatchers and visitors,” an official from the GCC said.
The bridge included a 27-metre main section over the road and two ramps of 68 metres and 65 metres on either side.
A cable-stayed bridge, such as the Signature Bridge in Delhi and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai, features a deck or carriageway and pavements that are supported by cables .These cables are directly connected to tall towers rising above the deck, known as pylons.
“The structure is chosen to be of cable-stayed style for aesthetics. The walkway’s 3.2-metre width will accommodate walkers, joggers, and small groups of visitors. At its highest point, the deck will rest 5.8 metres above the road, ensuring clear passage for vehicles below,” the official mentioned.
As per a document shared by the GCC, a single tower, rising 25 metres from road level, will support the deck through steel cables.
The main structure features a reinforced concrete deck topped with wood-like plastic flooring and stainless-steel handrails on its sides.
The substructure will stand on 44 piles (deep foundations), each 450 millimetres in diameter, linked by pile caps (foundation connectors), tie beams (structural links) and pedestals (support bases).
“All piles, pile caps, tie beams, and pedestals were completed by early May. Construction of the supporting tower and cable stays is underway. Remaining tasks include fitting the handrails by May 20 and laying the wood-plastic flooring by May 25. Physical progress stood at 65%, with 62% of the budget spent,” GCC’s document mentioned.
Published – May 10, 2025 12:52 pm IST