Ahmedabad, 25 April 2013

Standing committee of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation(AMC) today decided to maintain city’s over 100 years old Ellis bridge in its existing position for now. Considering the historical importance of this bridge, the standing committee of AMC has asked Municipal Commissioner to assign the task of making feasibility report to Stup consultant – the agency which after taking help of experts experienced in dealing with such an old steel structure will suggest how this bridge can be used.

A brief note issued by the AMC

-Old bridge was constructed in year 1892 in 14 spans in the size of 6.25 meter width and 433.41 meter length. Testing of bridge structure was done in year 1980, and after minor strengthening work, bridge was closed for heavy vehicles, and only small vehicles were allowed to pass through. After checking structural stability in year 2000, the bridge was completely closed for vehicles and even for walking people. This after construction of two new lanes on both sides of the old bridge.

-In year 2010, Mumbai based DAR consultant was asked to check bridge’s stability. DAR consultant gave following report:

-There are cracks in deck slab’s steel plates. Steel joints supporting bridge’s deck had erosion. All steel joints needed replacement for rehabilitation.

-To create two-lane bridge facility, old bridge had to be upgraded, moreover existing parts had to be pulled out to increase the width of decks. Such execution could be dangerous, and there were chances of damage to the parts of old bridge. (Even after doing all this, there was possibility that ultimately) the bridge could be fit for use. Even for rehabilitation of bridge only for walking people, these remarks were effective. But in that case, there would be no need to pull out the existing traces outside from their current position.

-Therefore it would be economical to replace the old bridge with replica steel structure. This would satisfy all needs.

-After this, Stup consultant was given task to check feasibility for construction of a new bridge replacing current bridge in November 2012. The consultants said that during visual inspection they found erosion in steel members of existing super structure at many places. The bridge was designed in 1892, but today the volume of traffic has increased significantly. They found that the situation of old bridge was very poor. There was acute erosion in deck slab steel’s main members. Metallic bearings also had faced erosion. Wearing coat was broken.

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