Poonamalle high road traffic to decongest soon
Posted on: 18/Dec/2017 11:53:02 AM
As the works to construct bridge across Cooum in Amjikarai is likely to get over, the traffic congestion along Poonamalle High Road is set to get relaxed soon!
Hinting about this, the highway department officials said this 60m-long 3-lane link shall get opened by second week of January 2018. A few works like re-alignment of the median, setting up the footpath along the short stretch, etc. are pending, said a senior engineer from the highway department who added that the RK Nagar by-poll had hindered the progress, thus causing a delay.
At present, the bridge is being used as a parking lot by shoppers who visit Ampa Skywalk. It was in early 2014 that the Rs 8-crore bridge project began. It was originally planned to get completed within 18 months, but got delayed because of disputes and hinders by the land grabbers.
After opening up the bridge for use, it would largely reduce traffic between Chennai Central and Koyambedu. Highway officials add that the two flyovers – between Anna Arch and Nelson Manickam Road, and Poonamallee High Road to Anna Nagar – have come handy to clear snarls. During peak hours, there is crawling traffic, say motorists.
A resident of Officers Colony in Arumbakkam says there are about half a dozen of policemen deployed to control traffic in this stretch. Motorists aim at avoiding traffic congestion on the main road and choose to go via quieter Choolaimedu and Arumbakkam.
After opening up the new bridge, the old one shall be demolished as it has weakened in the past few years. On demolishing, a 4-lane bridge will be set up. There will be 10 lanes in all of it.
This new bridge will also be helpful for the pedestrians. However, the pedestrians who take the stretch are skeptical. At the bridge, the footpath ends. This pavement has to reach until Amjikarai market. Passing through all the encroachments, motorists and parked vehicles is very troublesome, says a resident of Perumal Kovil Street.
