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The bridge across the Chalakudy River on National Highway 544 will be closed for 20 days from Saturday, May 9, for repair works, according to the police. The western-side old bridge will be completely shut to traffic, with vehicles travelling in both directions allowed to use the bridge on the eastern side on a single-lane basis.
The closure is to facilitate the replacement of bearings and other urgent maintenance works. Authorities have advised motorists to opt for alternative routes wherever possible to avoid delays and traffic bottlenecks during the repair period.
The Thrissur Rural Police have deployed 25 personnel along with a highway patrol team to manage traffic and ensure smoother movement. Meanwhile, work on the underpass at Amballur has been delayed due to the absence of migrant workers who have gone to their native places for Assembly elections.
The delay in completing the underpass has triggered protests from local residents, with contractors expecting the labourers to return next week and work to gather pace. The court or relevant authorities have not announced any specific response to the protests, but the situation is expected to be monitored closely. The repair works on the bridge are expected to be completed within the scheduled 20-day period, with traffic expected to return to normal afterwards.