MG Road to close at night for 40 days

Saturday, May 29, 2009
source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

One of the major access roads to Gurgaon MG Road will remain closed for traffic at night for 40 days starting Saturday to facilitate construction of the Delhi Metro line to the satellite township.

"The diversions will be put into effect on both sides of the road from Manglapuri crossing (near phoolwali mandi) till Aya Nagar More from 12 pm to 6 am. The special work is expected to be completed by July 9 when the flow of traffic will be normalised,'' said a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) spokesperson, adding that the movement of traffic will remain normal on the stretch from 6 am to midnight.

The road is being closed to speed up construction of the elevated Metro viaduct leading to the under-construction maintenance depot at Sultanpur, which is located just off the main MG Road. An elevated platform is being constructed between the pillars already erected on both sides of the road on which three sets of tracks with cross-overs are required for a distance of about 850 metres to enable trains to enter and exit the depot through a separate set of tracks. The normal elevated Metro structures are designed for just two sets of tracks.

For this, the distance between the two sets of pillars 36 on each side will first be joined using steel beams. To add support, precast concrete stabs will be placed on the structure, perpendicular to the steel beams. "The steel beams and concrete slabs will be brought to the site on trailers and lifted to the elevated structure using special cranes. This is not possible without closing the road below,'' the spokesperson added. Each of the steel beams is 21-23 metres in length and 50 tonnes in weight.

As an alternative routes, those commuting between Delhi and Gurgaon can take a left turn on Gadaipur Mandi road and turn right on Gurgaon Faridabad Road to hit MG Road after the Delhi Gurgaon border. This route, however, can only be used by small cars and two wheelers. All the commercial traffic using MG Road at night will be diverted to National Highway-8 (Delhi-Gurgaon expressway) or alternatively Gurgaon Faridabad Road and Mathura Road to reach Delhi at the Ashram crossing.

The DMRC is deploying an adequate number of traffic marshalls on the stretch to guide vehicles about the diversion and are also putting up signages on all the major intersections on the way to ensure smooth flow of traffic.