NHAI to redesign NH-66 stretch at Cheruvathur
The NHAI has decided to replace a 330-metre embankment section of the NH-66 highway in Cheruvathur with an elevated viaduct due to unsuitable marshy soil conditions. This redesign requires dismantling the existing structure and extending a nearby vehicle underpass, with construction expected to take an additional year.
Why it matters
This project highlights the critical importance of geotechnical due diligence in large-scale infrastructure development to prevent long-term structural failures and costly reconstruction in challenging terrains.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to replace a 330-metre-high embankment section of the NH-66 widening project at Cheruvathur with an elevated viaduct after geotechnical investigations found the ground unsuitable to support the original design. The redesign applies to the stretch between Maicha bridge and Kariyamkode bridge in the project’s third reach.
According to sources, about 330 metres of the proposed embankment will be replaced with a pillar-supported elevated structure. The completed section, which had already been opened to traffic, will be dismantled and rebuilt under the revised design.
The stretch lies in a low-lying marshy area prone to monsoon flooding.
It is flanked by canals, a river and a lake, parts of which were reclaimed during highway construction.
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