The PWD NH wing is preparing to redo the mastic asphalt of the busy, 2-km-long Kundannoor-Thevara bridge connecting Kochi and Willingdon Island, as the rains have taken a break. But some roads have not been designed to divert traffic, including container trucks. | Photo Credit: H. VIBHU
As the rains take a break and the Public Works department (NH wing) prepares to resurface the empty and potholed bridge, the 2 km long Kundannoor-Thevara bridge that connects Kochi to Willingdon Island, it is feared that the stone mastic asphalt (SMA) will disrupt traffic from the city to West Kochi, Willingdon Island and back.
The work of removing the surface of the bridge and restoring it as per SMA specifications is estimated to take a month, PWD sources said.
Despite this, little has been done to clear the bottlenecks and other obstacles on other roads to divert traffic, which will include hundreds of container trucks that use the bridge every day, said people in the area.
Citing assurances given by the State government, residents’ organizations led by the Ernakulam District Residents Associations’ Apex Council (EDRAAC) have been demanding steps to widen the narrow but congested Pandit Karuppan road that connects Thevara Junction and the western road. beside the Kundannoor bridge.
In early 2021, the elevated road parallel to Pandit Karuppan Road was integrated to increase the capacity of the road carrying vehicles and provide safe walking space for pedestrians.
Regarding the urgent need to restore the Kundannur bridge, Mayor M. Anilkumar said it may disrupt the movement of passengers and goods from the port. The reconstructed Pandit Karuppan road would have been a good alternative to divert the drivers. But the project remains a non-starter, perhaps because of the problems the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) is facing to raise funds, he added.
Another bottleneck between West Kochi and the city is the light rail crossing at Vathuruthy.
Published – September 18, 2024 01:49 am IST