The highly anticipated ‘bow-string’ arch bridge in Mumbai, an infrastructure marvel connecting the bustling Coastal Road to the iconic Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL), is set to open its gates partially on September 12, as revealed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). As the Coastal Road currently stretches only as far as Worli, this new connector promises to be a game-changer. From the crack of dawn on September 12, vehicles will zip directly onto the Bandra Worli Sea Link without the cumbersome detour at the Worli interchange, The Indian Express reported.
There won’t be a grand opening ceremony bu the good news is that the vehicles heading north will now have direct access to Mumbai‘s Sea Link from the Coastal Road. Meanwhile, those traveling south towards Nariman Point will still need to use the current entry points at Worli and Haji Ali.
When will the bow-string arch bridge become fully operational?
There will be no grand opening ceremony for the partially open bridge on September 12th. By the end of this year, the monumental girder linking the southbound lanes of the Sea Link directly to the Coastal Road will be complete, heralding a new era of seamless connectivity.
24/7 access for Ganeshotsav
In celebration of Ganeshotsav, the Coastal Road will open its doors to vehicles around the clock. From now until September 17, the road will pulse with non-stop traffic, accommodating the festive rush and ensuring easy access for all revelers.
Post-September 17, after the Anant Chaturdashi festivities, the Coastal Road will revert to its usual operational hours. Traffic will once again be regulated from 7 am to 11 pm, maintaining the high-speed efficiency of this vital corridor.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had initially set the end of July for the partial opening of the bridge to vehicular traffic. However, intense rainfall and high tidal waves last month pushed this timeline back. The bridge’s construction faced challenges as the Arabian Sea’s conditions impacted the civil works. Despite these setbacks, officials highlighted that intermittent dry periods in July helped accelerate the progress of the construction.
Coastal Road project: An iconic landmark
The arch bridges, each weighing an impressive 4,000 metric tonnes and stretching across 140 meters, are set to become iconic landmarks of the Coastal Road project. With these engineering marvels in place, Mumbai’s commute is about to get a lot smoother and more spectacular. Buckle up and get ready to experience the future of city travel, as Mumbai takes a bold leap into a new era of connectivity!