the goan I network
VASCO
The PWD roads division has issued a notification for closure of the National Highway stretch between Santrant slope (Titan Junction) and Cortalim junction to all vehicular traffic from 11 pm to 5 am on Saturday to August 31, to allow works by Dilip Buildcon Ltd for Package III of the new Zuari bridge construction.
According to sources in the traffic department, the road closure for five months would mean that traffic moving between Margao and Panaji after 11 pm and before 5 am will have to be diverted via Cortalim, Chicalim, Airport Road and Verna junction.
“The diversion will begin from Saturday from 11 pm to 5 am. The stretch was open to traffic as of now, but the diversion will begin from Saturday. As per the notification, highway traffic shall be diverted from Verna Titan junction to MES College, Zuarinagar, airport junction, Dabolim, Chicalim, Cortalim junction and vice versa for highway traffic in both directions,” said the source.
“Spine/wing segment transportation from casting yard to site location shall be permitted in non-peak hours during the day as well. Non-peak hours will be from 10 pm to 12 noon and from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm. Prominent proper signboards mentioning diversion period with dates in Konkani, Hindi and English will be displayed at diversion locations,” added the source.
The authorities had effected closure of the stretch of highway between Cortalim junction and Santrant slope for the first time in June last year, but not without confusion prevailing among the motorists. They were taken by surprise and many were not aware of the traffic diversion between Verna-Titan junction, Dabolim junction, Chicalim junction and Cortalim junction, as part of ongoing work to erect the spine and wing segments of the superstructure of new Zuari Bridge approach towards Cortalim side.
