After seven years of work that went on in fits and starts, the Highways Department is giving the finishing touches to the ₹54 crore flyover at the Porur junction on Mount Poonamallee Road. It is expected to be ready in two weeks.
Work on the 475 metre long and 17.2 metre wide flyover that began in 2010 had to be put on hold when huge underground water mains came in the way. Though construction resumed in 2015, it progressed slowly due to the lack of permission for traffic diversion and work had to be carried out during late nights only.
Soil conditions
Many residents expressed relief at the work finally coming to an end. Settu, an autorickshaw driver in Devi Nagar, recalled that the project had to be put on hold due to the presence of water mains and the soil condition.
“On some days, it takes more than 45 minutes for us to travel from Sri Ramachandra Hospital to the other side of the flyover. Once the flyover is completed, it will be used by vehicles of school, colleges and IT companies, leading to a reduction in congestion,” he said, adding that Arcot Road too should be widened to allow free movement of traffic.
Traffic snarls are common on the road that leads to Sriperumbudur and beyond. Pedestrians too struggle to cross the road. “It takes up to 15 minutes before you can finally cross the road. A subway beneath the flyover and pedestrian crossings on the sides where it lands would help pedestrians,” said S. Sanathkumar, who works in a power tools repair shop on Mount Poonamallee Road.
A bus stop on the Poonamallee side is just at the point where the flyover lands. It has to be shifted to prevent traffic jams on the service lane, Mr. Sanathkumar added.
Sources in the Highways Department said the priority now is to complete the flyover.
“We had to deal with a huge bunch of telecom cables last month and that delayed the construction. Painting, electrification and laying of BT topping will be taken up soon,” an official said.
