Many motorists take advantage of the lack of a high concrete median on many sections of Ambattur Industrial Estate Main Road, between Tirumangalam and Mogappair, and avoid heading to the nearest ‘U’ turn on the stretch.
This road behaviour impedes easy movement of vehicles and increases the risk for accidents. The road is maintained by the State Highways Department.
“Motorists, especially motorcyclists, show no concern for other road users and jump to the opposite side of the carriageway. A raised median is needed all along the stretch to save lives,” says V. Rajagopal, president, Anna Nagar West (Phase—II) Residents Welfare Association.
A few years ago, State Highways officials kept discarded wooden logs, concrete slabs as median along the stretch to prevent motorists from jumping to the opposite side of the carriageway, before the traffic signal. The exercise proved unsuccessful as many motorists pushed these logs and took a ‘U’ turn before the traffic signal to reach the opposite side.
Such unauthorised ‘U’ turns by motorists results in accidents especially during rush hour, when, on an average, around 6,000 vehicles use the stretch.
“Steps will be taken to construct high concrete median on the stretch,” said a State Highways official.
