T.N. Highways Department to study safety concerns over Periyanaickenpalayam flyover in Coimbatore

Tamil Nadu Highways Dept. permits trial run of Periyanaickenpalayam flyover in Coimbatore, but safety concerns raised. Road users say flyover and service road merge too abruptly, creating visibility issues. Possibility of vehicles colliding, especially at night. Solution: acquire land, demolish buildings, widen road or place speed breaker. Officials examining concerns, consumer org. urges govt. to take action.

The Tamil Nadu Highways Department, which has permitted a trial run on the Periyanaickenpalayam flyover in Coimbatore, is now examining concerns raised about the safety of road users.

The 1.89 km flyover, which is ready for inaugural, poses no challenges to vehicles proceeding towards Coimbatore from Mettupalayam. However, there are safety concerns about vehicles proceeding towards Mettupalayam. The ramp that leads downwards from the flyover and the service road, road users say, merge too abruptly.

“Vehicles on the flyover are unable to see vehicles on the service road. Some vehicles may be proceeding from the flyover at high speeds, and there is a possibility of their colliding with vehicles on the service road, especially at night,” road users said.

Service road users should have the space to move onto a separate lane for at least 50 metres, assess other vehicles on the main road and then join the main road. It is not advisable to permit traffic on the flyover with its current design, especially of vehicles proceeding towards Mettupalayam, road users said.

K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of the Coimbatore Consumer Cause, said all buses that come from Periyanaickenpalayam on the service road have to turn right, and use the lane that will also have vehicles joining the service road from the flyover. This is a “black spot” that will certainly see accidents if it is not addressed, he said.

Official sources said one possibility was to place a speed breaker on the flyover. But this may not be advisable. Another solution is to acquire land, demolish buildings at the junction of the flyover and the service road and make a wider road there. “We will survey the land there and arrive at a solution,” an official said.

Coimbatore district Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati said the officials of the Highways Department are looking into the concerns raised and based on their findings, a solution will be arrived at.