Mumbai Traffic Update: Andheri Bridge Connector Faces Opening Delay As BMC Awaits Load Test Results

The anticipated opening of the connector between CD Barfiwala Bridge and Gokhale Bridge in Andheri on July 1 might face a delay, pending the results of a crucial load test conducted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner overseeing civic roads and bridges, revealed that the load test took place on Sunday, with results expected late tonight. "A decision on the opening will be made once we receive the test results," he confirmed.

Height Barriers And Traffic Management

Reports suggest BMC's plans to install height barriers to limit heavy vehicles and deploy traffic wardens for traffic management on the bridge. This move is vital as traffic from Juhu and Andheri West, currently using two lanes, will merge into a single lane on Gokhale Bridge.

The installation of height barriers is critical because Gokhale Bridge currently permits only light motor vehicles, while the Barfiwala Bridge connector will introduce heavier traffic.

Alignment Project

The effort to align the levels of the two flyovers began on April 14, aiming to synchronize the heights of the Barfiwala Flyover and Gokhale Bridge. Concrete work during the monsoon was necessary to align the connecting girders.

BMC has allocated nearly Rs 3 crore for the alignment project, focusing on one side of the bridge. Earlier feasibility reports from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), endorsed by experts from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B), confirmed the merger feasibility without demolishing the Barfiwala Flyover.

Pedestrian Safety Measures

To enhance pedestrian safety on Gokhale Bridge, BMC plans to install two temporary steel structures. Currently, pedestrians navigate from the signal at the beginning of Gokhale Bridge, posing risks once vehicular traffic from the Barfiwala connector flows onto the bridge.

The BMC remains committed to ensuring structural safety and smooth traffic operations before finalizing the connector's opening between CD Barfiwala Bridge and Gokhale Bridge.