TRICHY: The delayed opening of the Mettur dam due to poor storage and inflow has turned advantageous for the state highways department, allowing it to accelerate work on the new Cauvery bridge near Srirangam in Trichy.With water flow in the Cauvery remaining low, the department is carrying out round-the-clock work and aims to complete 80% of the bridge project by the end of June. The four-lane bridge is expected to be commissioned by Sept this year. All substructure work, including the installation of 15 piers, has been completed. Of the 16 spans planned for the bridge, girders have been installed on 10 spans, while deck slab work is under way.As of Wednesday, the water level in the Mettur dam stood at 79.7 feet, with the reservoir holding only 45% of its full capacity. On the corresponding day last year, the water level was 112.7 feet. The outflow from the dam is currently around 1,000 cusecs. "If the water level continues to remain low, we could complete most of the work by the end of this month. Approach road and abutment work on both the Melachinthamani and Srirangam ends can continue even if there is substantial flow in the Cauvery," a highways department official said.At present, around 350-400 cusecs of water is flowing in the Cauvery. Two vents have been provided at the construction site to allow water to pass through and help recharge borewells in the riverbed.Officials said around 66% of the project has been completed so far. "We expect to reach the 70% mark by the weekend," the official added.The Mettur dam generally needs to reach around 90 feet before water is released for irrigation in the delta districts. With the reservoir yet to touch the 80-foot mark, the opening of the dam is likely to be delayed unless heavy rainfall in the catchment areas significantly improves storage levels in the coming days.A section of migrant workers had returned to their native places during the recent assembly elections, causing a marginal slowdown in the pace of work.