Vashi bridge to remain partially shut from tomorrow, Jan 23 till Feb 12
Vashi Bridge (Picture Courtesy: Leena Singh)
Motorists commuting between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai will have to brace for about 20 days of inconvenience, starting tomorrow, as traffic department is set to partially close the Vashi creek bridge to make way for maintenance work.
Update: Vashi bridge repair work postponed to February 1
One lane of the Vashi bridge will be shut from 1 am on January 23 till midnight on February 12, during which the Public Works Department (PWD) will work on the maintenance of expansion joints.
During this period, all vehicles travelling from Navi Mumbai to Mumbai will have to use the Mumbai-Vashi lane, while those going from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai will be diverted to the old Vashi bridge, adjacent to the existing bridge.
“The old bridge can be used only by four-wheelers and light motor vehicles, and emergency vehicles like ambulances and some buses. Heavy vehicles will not be able to use it. We have decided on Airoli bridge as an alternate route for the heavy vehicles,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Nitin Pawar told The Hindu.
Heavy vehicles heading towards Navi Mumbai will have to opt for Eastern Express Highway and turn from Vikhroli to travel towards the Airoli toll naka.
“We are working on trying to make these 20 days as hassle-free as possible by putting up enough notifications and boards near the diversion points,” Senior Police Inspector Satish Gaikwad from Vashi traffic told the daily.
“Due to the heavy vehicles entering the alternate roads, heavy traffic is expected on those routes and we will ensure extra bandobast of policemen at these places,” he added.
The 1.8 km six-lane bridge was constructed by the U.P. State Bridge Corporation in 1997.
