A new traffic signal will be installed at the junction of Vandalur-Kelambakkam Road and GST Road. This is to facilitate completion of work on the two deck slabs of the ₹55-crore flyover at Vandalur.
The Highways Department has fixed April end as target for the completion of this work that began in September 2016. On completion, the six-lane flyover — 711m long — would allow vehicles to drive over the Vandalur junction.
“The contractor has time till June-end. But we have planned it in such a manner that the work will be over before that. Though the earlier plan was to finish it by the end of last year, the work has taken more time due to labour issues, non-availability of sand, and an increase in cement prices. Labourers are from north and had gone home for over a month, delaying the work. But we are compensating for that delay,” explained an official source in the department.
The new traffic signal would allow vehicles towards Chennai from Kelambakkam to take a right turn beneath the flyover. At present, motorists are taking a left and then a ‘U’ turn to travel towards Chennai.
Traffic diversion
“When we get this traffic diversion in place, we would take up work on construction of the flyover’s ramp, the panels on the sides and retaining wall. We have arranged flyash from the Ennore thermal power station for the filling,” explained an engineer associated with the project.
Vandalur resident R. Pandian said that each time motorists had to wait for a minimum of 10 minutes during rush hour at the signal. “The work has been going on at a snail’s pace. If the project is expedited and is completed on time, it would come as a relief to motorists,” he said.
