The State Highways commenced execution of road safety measures, including installation of speed breakers, reflector poles, and blinkers on Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Kaspa in Old Town area that comes within Vellore Corporation on Wednesday.

Officials of State Highways, which executes the work, said that the bridge was jointly built by State Highways and Southern Railway more than a decade ago. Subsequently, the facility was handed over to the Corporation for regular maintenance, including black topping of the carriageway four years ago. “We have started installation of reflectors and blinkers as part of safety measures on the bridge. The entire work will be completed in a month,” Madhana Ibrahim, Junior Engineer (JE), State Highways (Katpadi), told The Hindu.

The action comes after a group of residents in Old Town gave a petition to Collector S. Leela Alex at a grievance meeting held on Monday. Residents said that the bridge had been witnessing frequent accidents, especially when motorists lose their balance and fall off the bridge. “As the retaining wall of the bridge is not tall, motorists are unable to hold on to it when they lose balance, especially two-wheeler riders. As a result, they fall off the bridge,” said B. Kumar, a motorist.

Following a direction by Collector Ms. Alex, a team of officials of State Highways led by S. Ashok Kumar, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), State Highways (Katpadi) inspected the bridge to undertake corrective measures to prevent accidents on the bridge.

Highways officials said that as per plan, the existing retaining wall on both sides of the bridge will be increased to 90 centimetres as per Indian Road Congress (IRC) guidelines. Of the total 600-metre-length of the retaining wall, 100 metres will be heightened because frequent accidents were reported along this length.

Small speed breakers will be set up at three identified accident-prone spots. Around 60 reflector sticks will be installed in the middle of the carriageway to prevent rash driving especially during night. Blinkers, warning sign boards will be placed on both sides of the bridge. The entire work will cost ₹16 lakh under the Road Safety Fund of the District Collector.

Residents said that the bridge is a lifeline for them as it helps them access public facilities like government hospitals and schools, and the bus terminus across the railway track.