Chennai: Motorists using the Kodambakkam bridge regularly are annoyed by the corporation’s decision to keep the bridge closed for vehicles during weekends for restoration, but not anymore.
The civic body had said the bridge would remain open for light vehicles on weekdays but has thrown it open even on Saturdays and Sundays now, putting the timely completion of work at risk.
Heavy vehicles, including MTC buses are still taking the long way around as they were diverted after the bridge work began.
“We did not want to disturb the traffic as Kodambakkam is an area with several commercial places around,” said a traffic police official.
“The works are carried out at night from 10 pm to 6 am. We had to ensure that people were not inconvenienced as well as complete the restoration,” he added.
The official added that diverting heavy vehicles does not choke traffic anywhere. “The corporation has also proposed to refurbish the Alwarpet and Royapettah flyovers,” the official said.
Corporation officials, however, maintain that the work would be completed in two months.
“Works under the bridge like replacing the bearings of the bridges and refurbishing the expansion joints will be completed in a month and the full work over the bridge will take another month,” said a corporation official. “Pavements will also be relaid with concrete,” he added.
“Fences along the pavements and the steps to climb over the bridge are poorly maintained. Restoration works must focus on replacing these,” said K. Bala who regularly uses the bridge.
