Kolkata: Construction of new Bailey bridge to connect VIP Road, Salt Lake & EM Bypass underway | When will it open for public?

The under-construction Bailey bridge — the second such bridge across the canal between VIP Road and Salt Lake — will be around 46 metre long and 7.5 metre wide. It will also be capable of carrying heavy loads and, unlike the existing one-way Bailey bridge near Lake Town, will function as a two-way bridge.

Construction began on October 24, and the bridge is expected to be completed and opened to the public by the end of the year, officials said. “The 46-metre bridge will cost around Rs 6 crore, and the state urban development department is funding its construction,” said a senior KMDA official.

The bridge is being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), which will assemble pre-fabricated units on-site, sources said. The bridge structure will be made of structural steel, with a concrete foundation.

According to a senior KMDA official, the Public Works Department (PWD) has proposed a crossover point on VIP Road for vehicles from Salt Lake heading towards the airport. “The final decision will be taken by the police after the Bailey bridge is complete,” the official said.

Currently, there are two bridges across the canal. The first, near Kestopur, connects to Tank No 8 in Salt Lake, leading towards Karunamoyee, but motorists often avoid it due to its narrow road and multiple speed breakers. The second, near Lake Town, is a one-way bridge used mainly by vehicles avoiding the Ultadanga flyover to reach EM Bypass. This Bailey bridge was built in 2018 after cracks appeared in one of the Ultadanga flyovers.

The upcoming third Bailey bridge is expected to significantly decongest traffic on VIP Road and the Ultadanga flyover, especially during rush hours.

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