Gokhale bridge merger to Barfiwala flyover complete

MUMBAI: The BMC on Wednesday said that the alignment of Gokhale bridge with CD Barfiwala flyover in Andheri will be accessible to motorists starting from July 1.
This development will enable motorists traveling from Juhu towards Andheri East or Western Express Highway to utilize the road. The misalignment between the two bridges came to light following the Gokhale bridge incident.
The BMC commenced the ground work on April 14 to match the levels of the two flyovers.The concreting work required to align the connecting girders of the Barfiwala flyover and Gokhale bridge had to be carried out during the monsoon season too.
Moreover, it was crucial that there should be no rainfall for approximately six hours after the completion of the alignment work. Considering this requirement and the possibility of rain during the specified six hours, a special rainproof shed arrangement was made at the work site. Fortunately, there was no rain received for about 12 hours, not only during the six-hour period but also afterwards.
The civic body is spending nearly Rs. 3 crores to match the level of the two flyovers for one side of the bridge. On March 19 this year, the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) submitted a report to the BMC, stating that the merger of the two bridges was feasible without demolishing the Barfiwala flyover. This assessment was later validated by experts from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B).