Bhadrachalam new Godavari bridge to remain closed for load testing from October 31 to November 7

The new high-level bridge across the Godavari river at Bhadrachalam will remain closed to vehicular traffic from October 31 to November 7 for load testing. Vehicles will be diverted through the old bridge, police said

Kothagudem: Due to load testing scheduled from October 31 to November 7, 2026, on the new high-level bridge constructed across the Godavari river at Bhadrachalam in the district, the bridge will remain closed to all vehicular traffic during this period.

Bhadrachalam Station House Officer (SHO) S Raju, in a statement, said all vehicles that would otherwise use the new bridge would be diverted through the old Godavari bridge. Motorists should follow the instructions issued by the police and cooperate in managing traffic, the SHO said.

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It may be recalled that a portion of the approach road to the second bridge caved in on the Sarapaka side on May 7, within two years of its commissioning in April 2024, allegedly due to poor-quality work. The incident led to the closure of the bridge until repairs were carried out.

The new bridge was built at a cost of Rs 98.45 crore by construction company Rajdeep Buildcon Private Limited. It took nearly nine years to complete the project, though the original schedule was two years.