Chandigarh: A much-needed high-level bridge over Sukhna Choe may finally fix a long-standing connectivity problem — but getting there could come at the cost of traffic disruption.The bridge could turn Madhya Marg into Chandigarh’s biggest traffic pain point for the next year, as closure of the Manimajra-Sector 26 link threatens to push a large volume of traffic onto the already congested arterial.Construction of the Rs 16.6 crore bridge near Bapudham-Shastri Nagar is expected to begin within a month. The UT engineering department plans to close the existing road for the duration of the work, which is likely to take at least a year.The closure will remove an important pressure valve for Madhya Marg. The route currently carries heavy traffic from Panchkula, Manimajra and the IT Park and is also a key approach to the Punjab and Haryana high court, Haryana Civil Secretariat, Sukhna Lake and Chandigarh’s northern sectors.With the link closed, much of this traffic is expected to shift towards Madhya Marg. The problem is that the arterial is already under strain, with a major road collapse in Sector 28 adding to congestion. Traffic from Panchkula and Manimajra is currently being diverted through Sector 28 or Sector 26.Diversion plan still taking shapeDespite the scale of the disruption, the UT engineering department is yet to finalise an alternative traffic management plan.UT chief engineer C B Ojha said the department would work out the diversions in consultation with stakeholders, including the traffic police.“We will be finalising an alternative traffic management plan for the project in consultation with stakeholders like the traffic police,” Ojha said.He acknowledged that Madhya Marg would have to absorb a sizable portion of the traffic once the link is closed.“There is a road from Kishangarh, along the Sukhna Choe, which can be used. Then there can be traffic diversions through Sector 26. We are exploring all options,” he said.The narrow road passing through the village is likely to struggle to carry significant spillover traffic.For commuters travelling daily between Panchkula and Chandigarh, the prospect of losing another route is worrying.“Even now, reaching Chandigarh from Panchkula during peak hours can take much longer than it should. If the Sector 26-Manimajra route is closed, traffic will naturally move to Madhya Marg. Unless diversions are properly planned before work starts, the entire corridor could become a major bottleneck,” said Rohit Mehta, a Panchkula resident who commutes to Chandigarh daily.Bridge promises smoother, safer crossingThe disruption is a consequence of replacing a low-level causeway that frequently gets submerged during heavy rain, blocking the Chandigarh-Panchkula connection and making the route unsafe.The proposed bridge will be the city’s third high-level crossing over the Sukhna Choe. Spread across around 500 metres and 27 metres wide, it will have four traffic lanes, dedicated cycle tracks and two metre wide pedestrian pathways on either side. The project also includes remodelling the existing T-junction in Sector 26.BOX 1: What’s coming–Cost: Rs 16.6 crore–Location: Bapudham-Shastri Nagar, over Sukhna Choe–Work: Expected to begin within a month–Construction period: At least one year–Bridge: Around 500m long, 27m wide–Features: Four lanes, cycle tracks and 2m-wide footpathsBOX 2: Why the bridge is needed–Causeway often goes under–Existing low-level causeway gets submerged during heavy rain–Waterlogging frequently disrupts the Chandigarh-Panchkula link–Proposed high-level bridge aims to provide an all-weather crossing–Sector 26 T-junction will also be remodelledBox: Routes likely to be affected–Manimajra–Sector 26 link to remain closed during construction–Traffic expected to spill onto Madhya Marg–Kishangarh-Sukhna Choe road being considered as an alternative–Sector 26 also likely to be used for diversions–Final traffic management plan is still pending
