Traffic Chaos & Diversions a Nightmare for Motorists Due to Closure of Old Kulur Bridge for Repairs
Mangaluru: Ever since the dilapidated old Kulur Bridge which was found to be unsafe for vehicular movement two years ago, and was suppose to be reconstructed, was once again closed for repairs sought by the National Highway Authority of India, on 16 March 2020 as per the orders of Dakshina Kannada DC Ms Sindhu Roopesh, has been creating nightmares for motorists due to traffic jam and route diversions.
While the old Kulur bridge is currently closed for vehicular movement, the new bridge that presently carries one-way traffic, vehicles from Mangaluru towards Udupi, is made to carry vehicles from both directions. However, very heavy vehicles, including containers, bullet tankers, cranes, trailer trucks, from Udupi towards Mangaluru are prohibited from plying on the new bridge and only light motor vehicles, regular passenger buses and goods vehicles up to two-axles (six-wheels) are allowed. And with vehicles plying on both directions on the new bridge has been creating traffic chaos during peak hours, resulting in frustrations of the motorists and commuters.
NHAI had sought the District Magistrate’s permission to close the bridge for vehicular traffic as it has become dilapidated. The repair work on the old bridge is undertaken by J.S. Arad Construction Pvt. Ltd. and may take about 20 days as per NHAI. While light vehicles are using the new bridge, very heavy vehicles from Udupi towards Bengaluru are plying via Padubidri and Karkala while those bound to Mangaluru ply via Mulki/Haleyangadi-Kinnigoli-Bajpe-Surathkal. As per DC’s direction, even though NHAI has erected road median/cones on the new bridge and direction boards at Mulki, Moodbidri, Haleyangadi, Panambur etc., for the information of drivers, still there has been confusion among the motorists, which has led to chaos.
As per NHAI Project Director Shishu Mohan, the repair and strengthening work will not take more than 15-20 days. Its pillars are strong enough, he said adding the repair work involves the replacement of expansion joints and bearings between the pillars and girders and such other minor works. So at the moment, until the work on the old bridge is completed it will surely be a nightmare for motorists during peak hours, to ply on the existing new bridge, with traffic from both directions using the bridge. Especially during morning and evening peak hours, it is a total mess near the Kulur bridge, with vehicles moving at a snail’s pace and struggling to navigate between each other. The honking of horns in that mess is another nuisance.
Avinandan who works at MCF speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “Commuting to work ever since the old Kulur bridge was closed, and the new bridge made two-way for traffic has taken lots of our precious time by getting stuck in the traffic jam. Even though DC had restricted heavy vehicles like tankers etc, a few of them still sneak in between, which makes the traffic situation much worse. It’s been a hectic time for a couple of traffic cops to control the chaos, and motorists are losing patience, thereby honking, yelling etc”.
To ease out the present traffic snarls near the Kulur bridge, few more traffic police should be posted, and also motorists should be informed about the bridge closure and warning signs should be posted at various places.
