Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - HT Navi Mumbai Live
No major traffic snarls on Vashi bridge with work called off early
DAY 1 OF TRAFFIC DIVERSION Authorities finish work on bridge by 6.30pm, before peak-hour rush
NAVI MUMBAI: Early completion of work by 6.30pm ensured that motorists did not face major traffic snarls on Day 1 of weeklong work on the Vashi bridge, known as Thane creek bridge, that began on Tuesday. Traffic cops, however, said they expect traffic problems in coming days.
The bridge is undergoing routine structural monitoring of north and south causeway adjoining the bridge and load testing of north causeway to be conducted by Central Road Research Institute at Vashi from April 9 to 16. During the work, vehicles heading to Mumbai from Vashi have been diverted to two lanes of one way traffic on the new creek bridge.
While light vehicles, tempos, buses plying toward Vashi from Mumbai have been diverted on old Vashi creek bridge, only heavy vehicles are being allowed to take one lane of the one-way traffic on the new creek bridge.
The authorities have said there would be partial vehicular traffic diversion from April 9 to 12 between 8am and 8pm. From April 13 to 16, there will be complete traffic diversion.
Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Vijay Patil said: “The work today [Tuesday] was completed by 6.30pm and hence, we stopped the diversion and the vehicles were allowed on the bridge as usual. There were no traffic snarls.”
On the situation throughout the day, Patil said: “Overall the situation was under control, with not much of a delay being faced by the motorists. It was only marred by three vehicles breaking down on the bridge and a minor accident which led to traffic being held up for some time.”
The motorists, too, did not complain. Krishna Patil, who came to Vashi from Bandra Terminus around 9am, said: “It took me just a few more min- utes as there was a small blockage where light vehicle traffic was being diverted to the old bridge.”
Those heading to Mumbai too did not face any problem.
“Let’s see how work progresses from tomorrow [Wednesday]. We are trying our best to ensure that the motorists do not face much of a problem,” said Patil.