Chennai: To prevent motorists from speeding down the U-shaped flyover near Tidel Park, the traffic police have requested the installation of rumble strips. The flyover, which starts near the Thiruvanmiyur MRTS station, diverges into two, connecting motorists to the CSIR Road onto Velachery and towards Sardar Patel Road.“Bikers speed during night hours and during weekends when there are not many vehicles,” said Traffic Policeman V Chandrasekar, posted on the stretch. “During the peak hours, the traffic on the flyover ensures people don’t race down,” he added.The flyover has speed signs indicating the permissible speed levels and warns people against overtaking. “Yet, no one reads or follows these speed signs,” a senior traffic police official said. “We need design changes on the road to slow them down,” he added. The department requested the nodal authority, Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC), to install rumble strips. “The issue has been pending for some time now,” a traffic police official told TOI.The junction has a foot overbridge to help commuters cross, but people resort to walking across the road. “A bus stop is stationed right at the end of the flyover. There are chances of buses heading from Rajiv Gandhi Salai towards Sardar Patel Road colliding with vehicles coming down the flyover if proper measures are not taken,” the official said.When contacted, a TNRDC engineer told TOI that the rumble strips would be set up in a week. “Last week, an inspection was carried out to assess parameters. We will place six rumble strips, each measuring 30 cm. They help uniform reduction of speed, with a gentle nudge,” he added.
