Versova creek bridge shut for repairs

Over four decades old creek bridge on Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway will be out of bounds for motorists as the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will be initiating work to repair and replace the expansion joint. This will cause long traffic snarls for motorists headed towards Naigaon-Vasai-Virar-Ahmedabad.

Currently, NHAI officials are in the process of finalising traffic plans and are mobilising equipment as a minimum of three expansion joints need replacement.

The bridge will be out of bounds from September 15 onwards, when Ganpati festival culminates.

It will take at least three weeks to replace the expansion joints so that the bridge is fit for motorists. Meanwhile, heavy and other vehicles moving from and towards Thane will be asked to go via Bhiwandi, on to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway.

Three years ago, in order to replace a cracked girder, the creek bridge was shut for almost six months. Then, it used to take at least 45 minutes to cross the bridge.

The NHAI has the plans to erect a new creek bridge at Versova, but it is still in the bidding stage and will take a minimum of 24 months for it to be ready, and will replace the existing old bridge.

As per NHAI's plan, the new 2.25-km long bridge will be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs188.41 crore on the hybrid annuity model. Thereafter, there is a likelihood of toll being levied on motorists.