The last of the four flyovers at four critical junctions on the national highway is set to become a reality with the construction of the flyover at Kundannoor set to be launched on Saturday.
Minister for Public Works G. Sudhakaran will inaugurate the construction work of the ₹74.45-crore project at 4.30 p.m on the day. The construction is expected to be completed in two years.
While Edappally and Palarivattom flyovers were commissioned some time ago, the construction of the Vyttila flyover is under way.
701 metres with provision for six-lane traffic
The proposed flyover will have a length of 701 metres with provision for six-lane traffic. The State government will fund the project though it is constructed on the national highway.
Kundannoor Junction is the confluence of Panavel-Kanyakumari (NH 66), Kundannoor-Willingdon Island (NH 966B) and Kochi-Madura (NH 85) national highways.
The proposed flyover is aimed at easing traffic along NH 66. The project is funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). The work is implemented and monitored by the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK). Muvattupuzha-based Mary Matha Construction Company has taken contract of the work.
The flyover has been designed in such way that the width of the approach road will be kept minimum while retaining the maximum possible width of service roads. Two slip roads and an underpass to smoothen traffic between Thripunithura and Aroor and Aroor and Thevara are also part of the project. The flyover will have 14 spans on both sides of the road, and each span will have a length of 30 metres. A roundabout with a traffic signal will be constructed under the flyover.
With traffic already being hit at Vyttila Junction due to the ongoing construction of a flyover, there are concerns over the impact a similar work at Kundannoor Junction may have on traffic.
M. Swaraj, MLA, will preside over the inaugural function. Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac will be the chief guest. K.V. Thomas, MP; MLAs P.T. Thomas, K.J. Maxy, Hibi Eden, John Fernandez, and A.M. Arif; RBDCK Managing Director Asha Thomas, and District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla will be present.
