Traffic police arrange partial bi-directional traffic on Netravati new bridge to facilitate micro resurfacing of old bridge on NH 66

The 800-metre-long bridge was a danger to drive on due to multiple potholes. A few days ago, the tyres of a car got punctured due to protruding steel rods on the old bridge.

Traffic police have allowed partial bi-directional traffic on the new bridge over Netravati river to facilitate micro resurfacing work on the old bridge on Kochi-Panvel National Highway 66, near Mangaluru, from December 20.

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has commenced resurfacing work, completely removing the concrete surface where potholes had occurred, and then re-concreting the stretch. A few days ago, the tyres of a car got punctured due to protruding steel rods on the old bridge. The 800-metre-long bridge was a danger to drive on due to multiple potholes.

As the NHAI is working on affected deck slabs, single-lane traffic on the old bridge (from Kasargod towards Mangaluru) has been allowed. As the single lane movement holds up the traffic, particularly during the morning and evening peak hours, the traffic police have got the median opened near Adam Kudru, about 200 metres before the old bridge, to divert a portion of the Mangaluru-bound traffic on the opposite carriageway by allowing bi-directional traffic.

As there was no opening in the median for a 2-km stretch from Kallapu till the bridge, it was difficult to allow bi-directional traffic on such a long stretch. Hence, the traffic police opened the median near Adam Kudru, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Najma Farooqi, who was overseeing the arrangements at the spot on December 20 morning, told The Hindu. Light vehicles were being diverted on the opposite carriageway through the new bridge to ease the congestion on the old bridge, she said.

Stating that the traffic police have asked the NHAI to make adequate street light arrangements at the worksite and along the diversion stretch, Ms. Farooqi said officers and personnel need to be deployed round-the-clock to regulate traffic on the busy highway.

The NHAI needs to deploy more men and machinery working round-the-clock to ease inconvenience to road users, the officer said.