New Elphinstone bridge to ease Mumbai’s east-west traffic chaos

Mumbairsquos skyline is set to welcome another engineering marvel mdash a doubledeck Elphinstone bridge that will replace the 112yearold structure linking Prabhadevi and ParelDesigned and executed by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation MRIDC the new bridge will become one of the cityrsquos rare multilevel road corridors mdash after the doubledeck section on the SantacruzndashChembur Link Road SCLR near Kurla LTT TerminusThe bridge is a part of the SewriWorli elevated connector being built by the MMRDA between the Atal Setu and the Coastal Road The upcoming structure will carry both local and longdistance traffic across the Central and Western Railway lines significantly decongesting one of Mumbairsquos busiest eastndashwest corridorsThe bridge will feature two distinct levelsThe lower deck will cater to regular eastndashwest traffic with two lanes in each direction along with pedestrian footpaths The upper deck will form part of the SewrindashWorli Elevated Connector linking directly to the BandraWorli Sea Link the Coastal Road and the Eastern Freeway networkThe SewriWorli connector passing over the Mumbai Monorail alignment near Wadia Hospital in ParelTo minimise disruption to train operations the span over the railway tracks will use openweb steel girders offering wider clearances and faster installation during night rail blocks Once completed the Rs 167crore project mdash targeted for completion by 2027 mdash is expected to ease congestion across ParelndashPrabhadevi improving connectivity between the cityrsquos central and western stretchesThe SewriWorli Connector is a 45 km fourlane elevated road project by the MMRDA in Mumbai that will connect the Atal Setu Mumbai Coastal Road and BandraWorli Sea Link creating a seamless travel route The entire stretch will be signal freeInstead of the current 13metre wide MMRDA has planned a 17metre wide 132metre long doubledecker bridge The lower deck will have 4 lanes two for either side of traffic and pedestrian paths and the top deck will feature four lanes leading directly into the SewriWorli ConnectorThe new Elphinstone bridge which will replace the 112yearold structure connecting Prabhadevi and Parel is set to take shape as Mumbairsquos yet doubledeck road overbridge The first such bridge in Mumbai has been the Santacruz Chembur Link Road SCLR with a double decker design over Kurla LTT TerminusDesigned and executed by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation MRIDC the new link will carry both local and longdistance traffic over the Central and Western Railway linesAt Sewriend where the bridge connects to the Atal Setu it passes over Sewri railway station and the Eastern Freeway at a height of 21m making it one of the highest road over bridges in the cityThe bridge will feature two distinct levels mdash the lower deck will cater to regular eastwest local traffic with two lanes on each side and pedestrian footpaths while the upper deck will form part of the larger SewrindashWorli Elevated Connector linking directly to the BandraWorli Sea Link and the upcoming coastal and eastern freeway corridorsThe ongoing dismantling work on Elphinstone bridge PicAshish RajeType Doubledeck road overbridgeDesign Openweb steel girders over rail linesAgencies MMRDA and MRIDC132 metres13metre wide MMRDA has planned a 17metre wide 132metre long doubledecker bridge45 KM45km elevated structure with the most challenging part being the Elphinstone bridge over rail lines112yearold structure connecting Prabhadevi and Parel