Heeding the public demand, the City Police has reopened an old bridge across the Kudamuritti canal near Uyyakondan Thirumalai on Vayalur Road in the city in a bid to prevent accidents.
The new system was brought into force on Wednesday thereby allowing users to use the new and the old bridge on the busy Vayalur road.
As per the arrangement put in place by the Traffic Police, vehicle users proceeding towards Vayalur would pass through the new bridge, while those coming towards the city from Vayalur side would pass through the old bridge.
A barricade with a flex message ‘keep left’ has been placed at a vantage spot close to the two bridges informing those proceeding towards the city from the Vayalur side to take the old bridge.
Police sources said incoming and outgoing vehicles used to take the new bridge hitherto leading to congestion on the bridge and also accidents.
Vehicular movement was allowed on the old bridge after taking into account its condition, said the sources.
A senior police officer said a constable would be deputed near the barricade to guide vehicle users coming from the Vayalur side to take the old bridge.
The new system has been put in place heeding to the public demand who wanted the enforcement authorities to allow vehicular movements on the old bridge to reduce congestion on the new bridge, said the officer.
The Vayalur road witnesses heavy volume of traffic due to proliferation of residential localities and commercial establishments on either side of the road.
Although the new bridge was constructed by the Public Works Department and thrown open to traffic over two years ago, it was expected to provide an accident-free ride to road users. However, it potentially remained an accident spot reportedly due to its poor alignment. Local residents had long been demanding that traffic be allowed on the old bridge so that accidents could be averted.
