Chennai: Steel bridge removed to construct new flyovers – Times of India

Chennai News

Chennai: The Foot Over Bridge (FOB) on Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), connecting Tidel Park with Thiruvanmiyur railway station, has been temporarily dismantled so that twin U-shaped flyovers can be constructed.
The decision to dismantle and redesign the elevated walkway was taken because the proposed structure was on the way. The steel FOB totally had three arms one on the railway station and other two slides down to connect the MTC bus stop and Ramanujam IT City ( Tidel park)
“The third arm of the bridge lands exactly at the same location where the ramp of the proposed U-shaped flyover ends. So, we are changing it (the arm) into a L-shaped structure so that it becomes easier and safer for the pedestrians,” said a senior official from Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation (TNRDC), the state agency maintaining the steel structure.
It will take another three to five months to complete the redesigning work and put it back to public use as works pertaining to the Chess Olympiad 2022 is the current priority, the official said, requesting anonymity.
The steel bridge, which was constructed at 9 crore, allowed employees at Ramanujam IT City (aka TIDEL Park) to easily cross over the four-lane OMR and reach the MRTS station.
On an average, more than 70,000 people not only from the IT park but also from the nearby IIT Madras Research Park and MGR film city were using this elevated walkway every day, according to official data.
Unlike most other FOBs in the city, the one here had escalators and was well-lit. So, this reduced jaywalking and pedestrian accidents in the stretch. But now it is all back to square one as pedestrians once again have to walk all the way to the traffic signal-controlled junction to cross the busy OMR.

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Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/steel-bridge-removed-to-construct-new-flyovers/articleshow/93096948.cms