Pallathadukka: With the Pallathadukka bridge on the Cherkkala–Kalladuka State Highway turning increasingly unsafe, the Public Works Department (Roads and Bridges Division) has put up a warning board at the spot, urging vehicles to slow down. The board was installed yesterday.

The bridge, built around 40 years ago, serves as a key route for vehicles travelling towards Karnataka and various parts of Kasaragod district.

Two years ago, potholes had appeared on the bridge’s surface, along with cracks between its spans. Metal rods underneath the structure had also become dislodged and exposed. Following this, KHRI officials inspected the bridge and confirmed its structural weakness. Temporary repair works were carried out on the surface at that time at the cost of ₹1 lakh.

Despite the repairs, the bridge continues to be under heavy pressure. A large number of goods carriers use this route round the clock to transport construction materials for both government and private projects. Passenger buses to Vidla, Puthoor and Bengaluru also pass through the bridge.

The KSRTC operates a profitable service along this stretch, connecting Kasargod and Puthoor, while the Karnataka RTC too runs buses through the route.