The traffic on the Chennai-Trichy National Highway was hit following the repair work undertaken on one of the two Palar bridges in Mamandur.
Diversion necessitated by the repair work on the bridge across the Palar in Chengalpattu hit vehicular traffic on the busy GST Road, leaving commuters stranded for several hours.
Replacement of expansion joints by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) that bear the pressure of vehicles on the bridge (constructed in 1953) near a distillery is the reason for the diversion. Because of heavy flow since Monday morning, certain heavy vehicles were stopped before the bridge and they were diverted to another road. Sources said the heavy vehicles which come from Chennai are being diverted to a nearby parallel road and the vehicles which arrive from Trichy would be diverted to Padalam, Nelvai village, Palayaseevaram and Pukuturai village.
However, the regular commuters said that since the highways department has asked them to drive very slowly on the bridge it takes a lot of time to cross the stretch.
It would be helpful if the highways speed up the renovation process and complete the work soon, said the commuters.
The highways department said that only heavy vehicles are being diverted from using the bridge and all light vehicles are allowed to use the bridge now at a slow speed.
Strengthening of one bridge is expected to be over by 20 days and after that work on second bridge will commence.
