MUMBAI: From April 20, the busy Sion flyover on Dr Ambedkar Road will stay close for site visitors for 2 months as its load-bearings will be changed. The repairs have been due since final October.
While motorists are fearful that the two-month closure will result in snarls on Eastern Express Highway because the flyover is a an important link between the suburbs and the island city, the site visitors division is but to chalk out a diversion path throughout this era. The flyover hyperlinks Sion Circle and Chunnabhatti.
Movement of heavy cars was once stopped on the bridge since Thursday 8pm, when a 10x15cm piece of plaster came off a steel plate hooked up to a railing and fell on the street.
Expert says shutdown disastrous for site visitors
Patch-up paintings was once completed on Friday and the steel portion painted over. "There is no need to panic as the fallen portion was not a part of the actual bridge," said an official of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).
The over 1.1km flyover with 750 metres of viaduct portion has 28 spans of girders and 29 pillars. "The Sion flyover will be closed from April 20 for replacing 170 load-bearings (located between pillars and girders) and expansion joints between girders on top, besides other routine overhaul and repair works," said a remark issued through the MSRDC, which is executing the Rs 1.Nine-crore overhaul.
Such alternative is necessary each and every 10-15 years to keep away from injury to the construction, MSRDC officials said. Sion flyover was once commissioned for site visitors in 2003.
The structural audit of the Sion flyover carried out through IIT-B final yr had really helpful those repairs. Accordingly, a contractor was once appointed.
The MSRDC previous had plans to extend the flyover through adding three lanes. But due to the slender street width and acquisition issues, the south-bound arm is but to be built. As a outcome, one lane of the north-bound flyover has been devoted for south-bound site visitors.
"The two-month shutdown will be disastrous for traffic. The repairs should have been done months ago," said transport expert Ashok Datar. "Motorists will have to use either Matunga flyover or Santacruz-Chembur Link Road. They could also use the BKC-Eastern Express Highway connector, but odds are that it won't be ready before June." Another alternative for the ones the use of Sion flyover will be the Eastern Freeway.
Activist A V Shenoy of Mumbai Vikas Samiti said: "This repair work is MSRDC's knee-jerk reaction to the Himalaya foot over-bridge collapse at CSMT. What the city needs is a planned approach to repairs and replacements, and a proper mechanism in place for periodic inspections. In fact, they should start working on a 10- or 15-year plan right away. If, after a proper inspection, it is found that this repair work can be delayed till after the BKC-Eastern Express Highway connector is ready, it should be done."
Motorists too are fearful about the site visitors snarls. "I will have to use the slip road, which will be majorly congested during peak hours. LBS Marg could have been an alternative, but due to Metro work, even that is now reduced to a single-lane," said Rajesh Gupta, a Thane resident.
(With inputs from Shaileyi Singhania)
While motorists are fearful that the two-month closure will result in snarls on Eastern Express Highway because the flyover is a an important link between the suburbs and the island city, the site visitors division is but to chalk out a diversion path throughout this era. The flyover hyperlinks Sion Circle and Chunnabhatti.
Movement of heavy cars was once stopped on the bridge since Thursday 8pm, when a 10x15cm piece of plaster came off a steel plate hooked up to a railing and fell on the street.
Expert says shutdown disastrous for site visitors
Patch-up paintings was once completed on Friday and the steel portion painted over. "There is no need to panic as the fallen portion was not a part of the actual bridge," said an official of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).
The over 1.1km flyover with 750 metres of viaduct portion has 28 spans of girders and 29 pillars. "The Sion flyover will be closed from April 20 for replacing 170 load-bearings (located between pillars and girders) and expansion joints between girders on top, besides other routine overhaul and repair works," said a remark issued through the MSRDC, which is executing the Rs 1.Nine-crore overhaul.
Such alternative is necessary each and every 10-15 years to keep away from injury to the construction, MSRDC officials said. Sion flyover was once commissioned for site visitors in 2003.
The structural audit of the Sion flyover carried out through IIT-B final yr had really helpful those repairs. Accordingly, a contractor was once appointed.
The MSRDC previous had plans to extend the flyover through adding three lanes. But due to the slender street width and acquisition issues, the south-bound arm is but to be built. As a outcome, one lane of the north-bound flyover has been devoted for south-bound site visitors.
"The two-month shutdown will be disastrous for traffic. The repairs should have been done months ago," said transport expert Ashok Datar. "Motorists will have to use either Matunga flyover or Santacruz-Chembur Link Road. They could also use the BKC-Eastern Express Highway connector, but odds are that it won't be ready before June." Another alternative for the ones the use of Sion flyover will be the Eastern Freeway.
Activist A V Shenoy of Mumbai Vikas Samiti said: "This repair work is MSRDC's knee-jerk reaction to the Himalaya foot over-bridge collapse at CSMT. What the city needs is a planned approach to repairs and replacements, and a proper mechanism in place for periodic inspections. In fact, they should start working on a 10- or 15-year plan right away. If, after a proper inspection, it is found that this repair work can be delayed till after the BKC-Eastern Express Highway connector is ready, it should be done."
Motorists too are fearful about the site visitors snarls. "I will have to use the slip road, which will be majorly congested during peak hours. LBS Marg could have been an alternative, but due to Metro work, even that is now reduced to a single-lane," said Rajesh Gupta, a Thane resident.
(With inputs from Shaileyi Singhania)
Sion flyover to be shut two months for repairs from April 20
![Sion flyover to be shut two months for repairs from April 20]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 30, 2019
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