Here is our long term solution to traffic management at the Avinashi Road Old Flyover and the surrounding areas
The Old Avinashi Road flyover and its surrounding areas have long been a source of hardship for citizens and an embarrassment for authorities due to chaotic traffic movement. Despite its primary function of enabling safe crossing over the railway track, this piece of infrastructure appears highly inefficient in fulfilling its intended purpose. At InHabit, our team dedicated a few hours to understanding the various bottlenecks and has devised what we believe is the most cost-effective solution to resolving the chaos for decades to come.
Step 1 - New Up Ramp to be constructed from Brookebond Road
Current road to be flattened just after the Kaaleeswara Mills underpass, Vehicles take a slight left to climb the ramp. Small Land acquisitions is required at Goldmedal Building Corner and Somasundara Mills. The remaining pillars can be constructed on Cox Street with the ramp joining the main flyover with a slight left.
This will reduce the bottleneck at Brookebond Road by over 80% as all vehicles proceeding towards Avinashi Road will use this ramp. This will also reduce the congestion in the service road below the flyover as vehicles no longer need to go below the flyover to avoid the flyover round about.
Step 2 - An Underpass from Kaleeswara Mill Road for vehicles moving towards Brookebond Road
A small tunnel/Underpass must be constructed below the Brookebond road so that vehicles coming from Kaleeshwara Mill underpass can go below the road and join the left most lane on Brookebond road. This will ensure they do not have to dangerously maneuver the oncoming vehicles to join the Brookebond road and travel towards the Brookefields Mall. Stormwater drainage must be planned well before attempting this step.
Step 3 - Centre Median Line to be Moved Slightly and extended up to new Flyover and close Upplipalayam Signal
Centre Median Line to be Moved by 6 feet for more space at down coming vehicles from the new ramp. The vehicles climbing up from Avinashi Road will have space enough for a Four Wheeler lane and a Two Wheeler lane. The same median must be extended all the way to the New Flyover Median to permanently close the right turn into Head Quarters Road.
Vehicles from Old Flyover ramp and Nanjappa Road intending to take a right at Head Quarters Signal must now drive further and take a U turn Below the New Flyover. Alternately the same vehicles can go further up to the Anna Salai Signal and take a right to Huzur Road and proceed to Race Corse and Railway Station.
All ideas relating to streamlining the traffic in this area will fail if the Upplipalayam signal is not closed permanently. The benefits of the new flyover can only be accrued if vehicles are allowed to go up the ramp and down the ramp without any obstruction.
Step 4 - Extend Left Median Line to avoid left turn from down ramp, expand service roads and Addis Street
The left turn into Nanjappa road for vehicles coming down the ramp must be permanently closed. The left median on the old flyover down ramp must be extended further upto Thandu Mariamman Temple such that vehicles coming from old flyover do not create a bottle neck trying to take a left turn to go to Nanjappa Road.
Light Vehicles intending to go to Nanjappa Road will use the Addis Street and larger vehicles will use the Park Gate Road. Once awareness sets in, most light motor vehicles intending to go to Nanjappa road will start going below the flyover as that would give a direct left turn access to Nanjappa Road. All service roads below the flyover must be expanded and improved to the extent possible to handle the additional traffic.
At the service roads below the flyover, acquire at least 15 feet of additional land and create a obstruction free highway standard two lane road. Repeat the same step for the service road on the other side of the flyover such that large volume of vehicles can take the service road and U turn Below the flyover to proceed to Nanjappa Road. This will require removing all encroachments and acquiring some space in the TNSTC depot.
Access to light Vehicles from Flyover down ramp going towards Nanjappa Road can be given through Addis Street. Encroachments must be removed and Addis Street must be expanded to the extent possible to allow it to handle the higher volume of car and two wheeler traffic
Step 5 - Allow All vehicles U Turn going towards Nanjappa Road and Avinashi Road
Since the Upplipalayam Signal will be permanently closed all vehicles coming from Avinashi Road and Head Quarters Road have to take the service road next to the old flyover and then take this U turn to proceed towards Nanjappa Road and Airport. The extra large vehicles like double axle buses and trucks can take a U turn at the round about on the flyover. This step will only succeed if completely obstruction free lanes are available on both sides.
Step 6 - Provide U turn below New Flyover and make Huzur Road One Way traffic only
Since the Upplipalayam Signal is permanently closed all vehicles intending to go to the Railway station or Race Course must take this U turn and proceed to take a left at Head Quarters Road or go further to the Anna Salai signal and take a left at Huzur Road. For the safety of commuters make Huzur Road and the Branch road near YWCA a one way permanently as it is currently practiced.
