Motorists plying on the north-bound stretch of Kalanagar flyover complain of badly-damaged expansion joints
Motorists using the north-bound carriageway of the Kalanagar flyover suffer huge shocks when driving through the badly-damanged expansion joints on the flyover. Expansion joints are an assembly designed to safely absorb the heat-induced expansion and contraction of concrete.
Caption The damaged expansion joints on the north-bound stretch of Kalanagar flyover Pic/Datta Kumbhar
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According to motorists, driving over the flyover’s expansions joints are as bad as travelling on roads with huge potholes. Transport experts feel that necessary measures should be undertaken in order to solve the problem, before there is any major damage to the bridge.
It should be noted that before monsoon, the six expansion joints on the south-bound stretch of the Kalanagar flyover were repaired by the Public Works Department authorities. While repairing work on the south-bound stretch was completed on time, plans to repair the expansion joints on the north-bound stretch was postponed.
According to experts, if the repairs are delayed, the expansions joints will be damaged further, forcing authortities to install a new one. This means that the two lanes of the flyover will have to be closed for more than 10 days, causing traffic congestion during the peak hours.
Shoaib H, a motorist, who regularly drives on the Kalanagar flyover, said, “Driving on the stretch is a horrifying experience, because the car rattles when it passes over two of the joints on the flyover. This has taken a huge toll on the suspension of my car.”
On Thursday, when this mid-day reporter travelled on the Kalanagar flyover, a huge gap was observed between the expansion joints at two places on the north-bound stretch of the flyover.
The Kalanagar flyover is one of the oldest flyovers on WEH. Its construction work started in July 1996 and it was opened to traffic in May 1999.
Speaking to mid-day an official from PWD said, “The repairs of the expansion joints on the north-bound carriageway of the Kalanagar flyover is our priority. The repair work was stalled because of the monsoon. Once we get an NOC, we will start repair work within the next two months.”
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