The urban development department has decided to replace the expansion joints of the Parama flyover for the first time since it was inaugurated in October 2015.
Work will start towards the end of June and continue for around two months. “Traffic blocks will be required to carry out the task,” said an official of the KMDA, which maintains the country’s fourth longest flyover.
KMDA engineers said the rubber linings between the expansion joints have withered. As a result, the joints are exposed and the bridge oscillates less than usual.
As the expansion joints are not working properly, motorists often experience a bumpy ride on the flyover, which engineers said is not ideal for the structure. “The work to replace the expansion joints will be carried out in phases. Work on the main flyover, including the EM Bypass ramps, will start first, to be followed by the AJC Bose Road flyover ramps,” a senior KMDA engineer said.
Structural experts said expansion joints on bridges and flyovers help relieve the stress of the structures caused by expansion and contraction because of changes in temperature. The 7.5km-long flyover, connecting EM Bypass in the east and the AJC Bose Road flyover in the west, has undergone several structural changes. The number of vehicles using the two flyovers has increased many times since they were linked in 2019.
Police said uninterrupted flow from one end to another has been the biggest draw for motorists. Over 150 vehicles reach the crossing of Racecourse Road and AJC Bose Road from the flyover every minute.
“Damaged expansion joints will result in water seepage into the concrete and that, in turn, can cause the bearings to rust,” said a senior KMDA official. “This can affect the load distribution of vehicles and reduce the life of the structure. That is exactly why the expansion joints of the Howrah bridge and Santragachhi bridge have been replaced.”
Urban development department officials said the work of replacing the expansion joints would include replacing the rubber sheaths between the joints that absorb stress.
Mamata visits Adyapith
Calsscutta: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee visited Adyapith temple in Dakshineswar on Tuesday and paid homage to Goddess Kali. Lata Banerjee, mother of Abhishek Banerjee, general secretary of Trinamul Congress, accompanied Mamata. Kamarhati MLA Madan Mitra also visited the temple with them.